C 54 ] 



In the Hortm Bengaknsis (Serampore, 18 If) three Agaves 

 are shown as cultivated in the Calcutta (Sibpur) Botanic 

 Garden, viz. : 



(1) A* Cantala JR. (2) A. lurida (3) A. tuberosa 

 No. (1) is noted as introduced before 1794 from India, and as 

 having a Sanscrit name which would now-a-days be transcribed 

 as " Kantala " No. (2) is said to be a native of America, 

 (date of introduction not given). A footnote states that No. (3) 

 had been received from Kew, but that the species was then 

 already in the Garden (from America 1799) under the name 

 of " Yucca superba" 



In the Hortus Suburbanite Calctttiensis (iMthop's College, 

 181/5) there is no Agave Cantala, but, a Fourcroya Cantuta of 

 Haworth appears as synonymous with the u Agave Cantula " 

 of the Flora Indica. The Bengali name is given as " Bilati 

 Ananas " and the source, doubtfully, as the Moluccas or 

 S. China. Graham (Cat. Bombay Plants., p. 272) is cited, also 

 Rumpf (.c.) the usual error being admitted as to Rumpf having 

 called his plant " Aloe americana." 



What Rumpf said was that the Amboyna " Aloe " was a 

 very different vegetable from the true Aloe or " S&npervitum" 

 (Lidah Boaya) and was manifestly akin to C/usius' Aloe amer* 

 icana, the differences being due perhaps to soil and climate. 



We have not seen the original** work of Haworth, 

 but his transfer of Roxburgh's " Cantula " to Furcraea 

 was pretty surely an error. Voigt (Hort. Suburb I.e.) 

 further gives " Fourcroya tuberosa " (no doubt the " Yucca 

 superba) " and two Agaves, viz., 1. lurida Ait. 2. Vera Cruets 

 Haw. He says expressly that his " lurida " is that of the 

 Hortus Bengalensis. The first edition of Alton's Hortus Kewensis 

 issued in 1789, so that it is possible that Roxburgh's "A. 

 lurida " was named with reference to that work, but it does 

 not follow that the Calcutta plant and that of Kew (which 

 appears to be extinct) were identical. 



As regards the A. Vera Cruets Haw. of Voigt, there is 

 happily a clear record. A note by Wallich in the unpublished 

 records of the Sibpur Herbariun shews that this was introduced 



* The name as spelt in the Hortus Bengalensis has priority and the species 

 is therefore A. Cantala, Roxb., not A. Cantula, as in the Flora Indica. 



** Since seen : the emendation was gratuitous j Roxburgh's plant is a 

 true Agave. 



