AGAVE. eb 



nine inches in length, and three in breadth at the base, 

 edges armed with a few dark brown spines, and at the apex 

 with a very stout and long black one. Native of Mexico. 



A. Scliidiffera. — This very fine species is nearly allied to 

 A. filifera. The lower leaves are spreading, the upper ones 

 somewhat erect, and about a foot long, narrow, linear, 

 dilated at the base, tipped with red, and having longitu- 

 dinal bands of white above and below ; the edges are also 

 white, and from these hang long white broad woolly 

 filaments, giving the whole plant a grotesque appearance. 

 It seldom flowers, and, indeed, those who grow it should 

 not desire it to bloom, as it causes the death of the plant. 

 It flowered with us, for the first time in Europe, during 

 the winter of 1867, producing a spike nearly six feet long, 

 the lower half being clothed with reddish brown bracts ; 

 flowers produced in fascicles of two, or sometimes three ; 

 stamens long, surmounted with yellow anthers. It is a 

 handsome plant, well deserving a place in every collection, 

 and it forms a striking object plunged in rock- work in the 

 sub-tropical garden. Native of Mexico. 



A. Seemaimi. — This is a very handsome small-growing 

 species. Its leaves are arranged in a compact rosulate 

 manner, and are spathulate, with apex acuminate and 

 the edges serrated or lobate, the marginal lobes bearing 

 smaller, and the apex a larger brownish spine. Native 

 of Central America. 



A. striata. — A very distinct and desirable plant, with 

 leaves from one to two feet in length, and less than half 

 an inch in width, except at the base, where they are 

 stouter and much broader, dull green, streaked from base 

 to apex with fine white lines ; plain at the edges, but armed 

 at the points with a sharp red spine. Native of Mexico. 



A. Taylorii. — This is a very beautiful member of this 



