909 
In contrast with the strong centralization of Agave in Mexico, 
Furcraea finds its endemic focus in the Andean region of 
Colombia and Venezuela, whence it sweeps down the eastern 
coast of Brazil, upwards into the Antilles, and through Central 
America into Yucatan. The very distinct arborescent section 
of few species which Mr. Drummonp designates Serrulatae, alone 
occurs much if at all above Yucatan, in the high mountains 
below Oaxaca and near the City of Mexico. 
The Furcraeas are distinctly xerophytic, though less markedly 
so than most Agaves, like which they have a thickened epidermis, 
well guarded stomata, and a somewhat gummy sap. The upper 
surface of old leaves of F. gigantea and some other species is 
marked by obliquely longitudinal bands of alternating darker 
and lighter green, the lighter areas, which appear sunken in 
Withering leaves, resulting from the local interjection of a 
thin water-tissue between the chlorenchyma and the epidermis 
(Pl. XXXVI, XLI, XLID, — to which cause the vittation of 
many marginate Agaves'5 is likewise due. 
In the section Spinosae or Eufurcraea, the leaves are com- 
monly defended by usually large and strong, often hooked, 
marginal prickles, which afford a protection comparable with 
though less effective than that which the Bromelias and Hechtias 
enjoy through an intensification of the same type of arming. 
Unlike most Agaves, they do not commonly possess a well- 
developed pungent end spine: but, on most species, leaves 
Which come to full maturity end in a hardened button or 
short mucronately attenuated prickle which is equivalent to | 
the end spine ot Agave; and the little-known F. agavephylla — 
which should be the source of the Pernambuco or Cearé hemp 
©xported from northern Brazil — is described as ending in a 
well-developed spine. 
Fureraeas do not commonly sucker, hence are very excep- 
Honally cespitose — in contrast with a large number of Agaves. 
Like many of the latter they are monocarpic’; and it has 
been recorded that when a flowering plant has produced suckers, 
these are likely to flower with the parent plant'’, as in Agave, 
