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YUCCA ALOIFOLIA. 
(aloe-leaved yucca.) 
class. order, 
HEXANDRIA. MONOGYNIA. 
NATURAL ORDER. 
LILIACE^. 
Generic Character Corolla bell-shaped, six-parted, spreading. Ovarivm, three-sided. Capsule, 
three or more celled, with a small hole at the end of each. 
Specific Character. — Evergreen., from three to four feet high. Leaves lanceolate, smooth, spreading, 
terminating with a very fine point. Flowers produced, in small clusters, forming a loose spike from 
one foot and a half to two feet high, of a whitish green colour, marked with a streak of purple down 
the centre of the outside of each petal. 
This plant is a native of South America, and has been known in this country 
for many years. We are obliged to our esteemed friend, Mr. Campbell, for the 
opportunity of figuring- this species : also for many other beautiful specimens he 
has kindly communicated to us, and under whose management it flowered profusely 
about August last, in the Manchester Botanic Garden. The plant when in full 
bloom stood from nine to ten feet high ; the spike of flowers measuring four feet. 
It is nearly hardy, but prefers the protection of the green-house or conservatory, 
where, when in flower, (in which state it is only seen to perfection,) it has a most 
magnificent appearance. The copious display of delicate flowers set in panicles 
round a column four feet high, contrasted with the deep green leaves at their base, 
form a pyramid of beauty and attractiveness. 
The soil in which it thrives best, is rich loam, to which with advantage may be 
added a little pulverised peat, and if mixed carefully with the former, which must 
not be sifted, will enable the rootlets to perform their oflice without having to 
encounter those obstacles often met with by the loam getting too stiff, as it is 
sometimes liable to do ; in this case the roots receive injury. They require but 
little water, and that only in the growing season, when the soil is found to be very 
dry. The method of increasing them is by suckers from the roots. 
Many of the yuccas may be planted out in the flower-garden, or on the lawn^ 
such as the Y. gloriosa, Jilamentosa, &c. ; in either place they will be objects of 
great ornament. But, for this purpose, a dry situation should be chosen, and in 
places where this cannot naturally be found, the preferable way is to elevate them 
on a hillock of suitable compost a little above the surrounding surface, covering the 
whole with good turf, and if neatly done it will be found to answer, and have a pretty 
eff"ect. The generic name is taken from its being called by the inhabitants of San 
Domingo, Yuca. The specific name is taken from the resemblance of the leaves to 
those of the aloe, hence aloifolia. 
Adam's needle is the English name of the yuccas, taken from the leaves 
terminating with a sharp point ; those of the yucca Jilamentosa have the fibres 
detached in separate filaments : from this it has been called Eve's thread. 
VOL. III. — NO. XXVI. E 
