79 8 



THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



be considered a highly specialized offshoot. There is immense 

 variation in* the foliage characters of agave, from the slender 



Fig. 8. — Yucca Guatemalensis. 



reed-like leaves of Agave geminifolia to the massive blades of 

 Agave Americana. The character of the inflorescence has been 



