84 OENAMENTAL FOLIAGE PLANTS. 



and armed upon each, lobe with a very large flat dark 

 brown spine, and at the apex with a long stout round 

 one. Native of Mexico. 



A. pugioniformis.- — A dense handsome-growing plant, 

 with erect dark green leaves, which are in some cases 

 slightly glaucous ; they are from twelve to twenty inches 

 in length, and one to one and a half in breadth, and 

 armed at the edges with long recurved white spines. 

 Native of Mexico. 



A. rigida. — This is a graceful-growing species, forming 

 a dense crown, and producing pendulous leaves from 

 three to six feet in length, convex on both sides, very 

 narrow, except at the base, where they are broad and 

 flat ; the whole plant unarmed and dark green. It is 

 oftentimes to be found in collections under the erroneous 

 name of Bonapartea rigida. Native of Mexico. 



A. Salmiana. — The leaves of this plant are immensely 

 thick, very dark green, and some four feet in length, 

 armed at the point with an immense straight dark brown 

 spine, and at the edges with large recurved ones. There 

 is a variety called A. Salmiana longifolia, but its leaves 

 occupy such an immense space, through being more 

 spreading. Native of Mexico. 



A. Saundersii. — A beautiful stemless species, with leaves 

 spreading horizontally, from one to two feet long, oblong- 

 lanceolate in shape, thick, somewhat glaucous, and armed 

 with dark brown spines on the margins and points. 

 The scape is some twelve feet high, erect ; flowers nume- 

 rous, in clusters, with a green ovary knd yellow limb, from 

 which extend the long stamens, tipped with large deep 

 yellow anthers. Native of Mexico. 



A. scabra. — A compact-growing and very handsome 

 plant ; leaves rosulate, very glaucous, thick and fleshy, 



