68 



Descriptive Flora 



received its popular name from the popular notion that it blooms 

 every one hundred years. 



The sap of plants related to this species is drawn from a 

 large cavity hollowed out of the center of the plant by taking out 

 the bud. A good illustration of this may be found in the July, 

 1916, number of the National Geographic Magazine. The sap 

 that accumulates from the cut leaves is gathered twice a day by 

 the Mexicans and converted into their National beverage called 

 ' 1 Mescal ' \ ' 1 Pulque "or u Tequila. 9 ' Tequila goes through three 

 processes. The first is pulque, which is a milky white, stringy 

 substance taken raw from the plant. This ferments so rapidly 

 that it will break a bottle. Recently something has been added 

 to prevent this rapid fermentation. The second stage is mescal, 

 which looks like water, only is yellowish, and is stronger than 

 whisky. Tequila is the distilled liquid and is colorless like water. 

 The Agave grows much larger in Mexico where entire haciendas 

 are given up to its cultivation. The leaves are often fully 8' long 

 and proportionately broad and thick. The plants which are used 

 in Mexico are not A. americana but related and similar species. 

 A. americana has been grown in Europe for three hundred years, 

 but it is not known where it is native. 



This plant produces the largest flower stalk in the United 

 States. It also makes unexcelled cough syrup and poultices by 

 heating the leaves, pressing out the water, and preparing in the 

 usual way. 



Atamosco texana (Herb.) Green. Copper Lily. Atamosco Lily. 

 (Zephranthes texana Herb.) 



This copper-colored lily springs out of a cluster of long, 

 narrow, smooth leaves that come out of a bulb several inches 

 below the surface of the ground. Flower stem is leafless, slender, 

 6 to 10" long. Bulb is small, round, like an onion-set. Sepals 

 and petals 3 each, alike in size and color. Fruit a 3-lobed pod. 

 Blossoms in June and July, usually following several days rain. 



