[ 50 ] 



of Commelin's " Aloe polygona" (which is not cited, however), 

 but the enlarged drawings of the flower do not match the 

 Indian " vivipara." It is not stated whence this Agave was 

 brought to the Florence Botanic Garden, where it flowered, 

 and was described in 1806 by Zuccagnt. 



The List of Agaves in the Jardin Du Eoi published at Paris by Desfon- 

 taines (1815) is as follows : 



* (1) americana, L.-~variegata 



(2) lurida, Jacq. Coll. ") 



mexicana ) 



angustifolia 



(3) vivipara, L. 



(4) foBtida, L. 



(5) Manguai ") 



lulbifera, Sonpland ) 



(6) yucccBfolia, Bed. Lil. 



(7) spicata, Dec. Cat. 



Nos. 6 and 7 are well known species of a different group from the 

 Euagaves, with which alone we are so far concerned in India. No. (4 ) is a 

 Furcrsea ; so most probably was No. (3). No. (1) was evidently true 

 Agave americana, Linn. Desfontaines must have seen the naturalized 

 Agave of S. Europe and N. Africa, and as he doubted the identity of his No. 2 

 with the lurida of Jacquin it was very possibly = A. lurida, H. E. C., i.e., 

 Aloe americana of Clusius. The suggestion that it was the " A. mexicana,' 1 

 which the bracket implies, supports this. 



In the beginning of the 19th century, therefore, it appears 

 that the following species of Euagave and Furcrsea were 

 known to science, viz. 



Agave (Euagave) 

 I. Agave americana Linn. 



Origin unknown, cultivated as an ornament in 



the gardens of Europe. 

 II. Agave Vera-Cruz Miller 



Introduced from Mexico ; probably the Aloe 

 americana of Gluslus^ naturalized in S. Europe 

 and N. Africa (= A. lurida H. B. C.). 



* The numbering is ours. 



f Hb. H. B. C. possesses a specimen from Xeres in S. Spain, collected by 

 E, Bourgeau (No. 4G8) named A. americana by Cosson, which is identical with 

 the A. lurida of the Calcutta Garden. This No. of E. Eourgeau is quoted 

 by Nyman (Consp. Fl. Europ.) for A. americana, Linn., which he gives as 

 naturalized along the shore and in the islands of the Mediterranean. 



The figure (28) of A. americana in Baillon Hut. des Plantes, XIII, 16, 

 is a fair portrait of A lurida H. E. C., particularly as regards the inflorescence. 

 The enlarged sketch of the flower is decisive. 



