n. o. amaryllidEjE. 1275 



equitant. Inflorescence branched ; sheaths membranous ; spathes 

 several-fid, subscarious ; bracts scarious ; flowers pedicelled^ 

 Perianth-tube very short ; segments oblong, spreading, subequal. 

 Stamens inserted at the base of perianth ; filaments filiform, 

 anthers linear basifixed. Ovary obovoid. Style filiform ; arms 

 elongate ; tips reniform, stigmatic. Capsule obovoid, membra- 

 nous, loculicidal ; valves reflexed, leaving the seed-bearing axis 

 persistent and free. Seeds subglobose ; testa lax, shining, fleshy 

 within. (J. D. Hooker). 



Uses • — Loureiro states that the roots are used medicinally in 

 Cocbin-China, and that they have aperient and resolvent proper- 

 ties and purify the blood of gross humors, being specially 

 useful in Cynanche. According to Rheede, it is used as an 

 alexipharmic in Malabar, being given to those who have been 

 bitten by the cobra, and to cattle who have fed upon poisonous 

 plants. 



N. 0. AMARYLLIDEJE. 



1260. Agave americana, Linn., h.f.b.i., vi., 

 277 ; Roxb. 296. 



Vern. : — Rakas patta, banskeora, barakanwar, kantala, 

 (Hind.); Jungli or Bilati-ananash, bilatipat, koyan, murga 

 (Beng.) ; Jangli-kunvara, parkanda (Bomb.) ; Rakas-patta 

 (Dec); Anaik-kat razhai, pithakalabuntha (Tam.); Rakashi- 

 matalu (Tel.) ; Wilyatu kaitalu (Pb.) ; Jangliknnvara (Guz.) ; 

 Panam-katrazua (Mai.) ; Bhuttale budukattalenaru (Kan.). 



Habitat: — Originally a native of America, naturalized in 

 many parts of India. 



Leaves lanceolate, many, in a lax rosette, from a short stout 

 prostrate or ascending trunk which is usually hidden by their 

 thick bases, deep green, often variegated with white or pale 

 yellow longitudinal stripes or borders, sometimes rather 

 glaucous ; at base spreading, then ascending, tips sometimes 

 recurved, 4 to 6ft. long, and as much as half a foot broad 

 above the middle ; sharply constricted just above the base ; 

 margins armed with strong dark brown prickles, mostly pointing 



