AGAVES OP THE UNITED STATES. 
65 
stigmas, which slightly open or broadly expand at maturity ; 
fruit a dry, erect, globose to cylindrical capsule, loculicid- 
ally three-celled, having two rows of numerous, thin, black 
seeds in each cell, and generally opening in upper part 
only; embryo filiform. 
The inferior ovary* gives the strongest reason for class- 
ing this genus with the Amai-yllidaceae. Its capsules, 
numerous discoid seeds, and elongated cotyledons show 
affinities with Liliaceae. Within the Araaryllidaceae, it is 
closely allied to Furcraeae. 
The best basis for a classification of the Agaves lies in 
the fundamental differences in the forms of inflorescence, 
accompanied, as they are, by group differences in the struct- 
ure and forms of the leaves. The sections recognized by 
Dr. Engelmann, — Singuli florae y Geminiflorae, Panicu- 
latae, may be very technically described as having flowers 
usually subspicate and solitary ; flowers usually subspicate, 
in pairs ; and flowers paniculate. As these are subgeneric 
?s, A. 
Parryi, in the mountains above Pleasant Valley, a few mUea from Fori 
Bayard. The top of the scape had been broken by some accident, and 
the plant had made an effort to produce flowers on a low branch of the 
inflorescence. These flowers were in a thick mass close to the main 
axis. All were imperfect or distorted. Some were grown together. 
The segments in nearly all cases were greatly broadened and frequen^jf 
distinct reversion to the petaloid character. In some flowers it was 
difficult to tell whether a certain organ represented a segment or a fila- 
ment, but in the lai^er and better developed flowers, there was usually 
an equal number of each, and this number varied from sis to five, four, 
three, and even two. In one large flower the style was irregularly four- 
