36 
and figured as A. Jxtli and A. ixtlioides (Bot. Mag. t. 5893). In 
Dr. Hern’s garden, situated just on the French side of the boundary 
gorge at St. Louis, I saw a form with leaves much thicker than usual 
ari in. thick at the base) and forming a less dense rosette. The plants 
d A. Cantula and A, Rumphii in the Riviera gardens are forms of 
undeveloped sisalana- and the same holds good with a plant called A. 
levis. One panicle of this species at La Mortola was producing copious 
bulbils. The peduncle, including the rhomboid panicle, does not reach 
a greater height than 12-15 feet. The bract leaves, like those of Agave 
americ em are small and distant as compared with those of A. 
picos 
br 
Todaro, ih on further acquaintance prove to be Agave rigida, var. 
elongata. 
WEST AFRICA. 
In April 1890 there was received, through the Colonial TAN 
sert of leaves of an Agave from Sherbro in the colony of Sierr: 
est Africa, known locally by the rather singular name Wild 
Süriparilla. The leaves were evidently those of one of the erous 
forms of Agave rigida. They had smal! distant black sikii nd the 
terminal spine so characteristic of the species. The leaves were thin 
and rigid in texture and of a glaucous green colour. It is evident 
. easily be accounted for. The thin long roots of some Aroidex, somewhat 
resembling those of Smilax, have been exported from the West - as 
Sarsaparilla ; but this is the first time that the name ais ex ssociated 
specially looked for. Their presence so far is interesting as s owing 
how widely diffused many new world plants have become even in the 
less accessible parts of the old. 
East INDIES. 
The species of fae. hitherto yielding commercial ape in the East 
Indies have proved to be either 4. americana or A. vivipara. Investi- 
wn Manila hemp prepared from Musa textilis) is also pa icon 
pre aiid from Agave vivipara. This is quoted (January 15th, 1892) 
