92 
MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN. 
1871 ; Miami, A. P. Garber, July, 1877; Indian Key and 
Biscayne Bay, A. H. Curtiss, 1872; Tampa, Dr. Geo. 
Vasey, 1892; Jupiter, C. R. Dodge, 1891; H. J. Webber, 
1895; C. T. McCarty, 1895 ; Missouri Botanical Garden. 
The A. rigida sisalana seems to have become fully natu- 
ralized in Florida, but it is found near spots that at some 
time have been under cultivation. It was first taken to 
Florida by Dr. Perrine from Yucatan in 1836.* It is 
called Yaxci, Yaxqui (pronounced Yaash-ki), by the 
natives in Yucatan, and is cultivated by them to some ex- 
tent, but is not so productive there as their Saqui, or A. 
rigida elongata. In Florida the fiber is finer, longer, and 
stronger than that obtained from the Yucatan plants, and 
much is hoped for in its cultivation. It is growing spon- 
taneously at many points along the coast between Titus- 
ville on the east and Charlotte Harbor on the west. Its 
largest tract is Indian Key; the largest and finest plants are 
found at Upper Metacotube and Boca Chica Keys. Plants 
were seen by Mr. Dodge on the former whose leaves were 
two feet above a man's head. Other large tracts are on 
Key West, the group of Keys including Lignum Vitae, 
etc., the old Perrine Grant, Biscayne Bay, Miami, Indian 
River, Jupiter and Juno. It has also been known in Polk 
County in the interior for the past forty years, where it 
forms impenetrable thickets *' unharmed by frost, fires or 
any other cause." Two patches covering a <iuarter of an 
acre are >aid to have grown from two original plants. t The 
plant is also said to have been successfully introduced on 
the Lower Rio Grande. t 
In Florida tliis Agave is usually known by the name of 
Sisal Hemp. Its reproduction by means of Pole Plants 
* Senate DociiTnent So. 300, March. 18.:8. Rt-port of U. S. Department 
of Aj^TicultTire, 1869. Fiber Investigation-^. C, R. Dodjic Reports 3 ami 
5, Depart. A^ric, 1891. 1893. 
t Flbi!r Investigations. No. 5, (1803), 17, U. S. Dept. Agric, C. R. 
Dodge, 
: Frocetedicgs of U. S. National Museum, 5! 9, Dr. V. Havard. 
