NERI'NE CURVIFO'LIA. 
CURVE-LEAVED NERTNE. 
Order. 
monogynia. 
Natural Order. 
AMARYLLIDACEiE. 
Native of 
Height. 
Flowers in 
Habit. 
Introduced 
C. fir. Hope. 
2 feet. 
September. 
Bulb. 
in 1777. 
No. 1205. 
The name of this genus has been borrowed by the 
late Dean of Manchester— Dr. Herbert, from the 
fabulists of classic days, Nerine being fabled as the 
daughter of Nereus ; consequently, she was one of 
the Nereides or sea nymphs of the poets. 
The 01 dei Amaryllidaceae, to which this plant be- 
longs, is somewhat extensive, including Narcissus, 
Alstioemeria, Agave, and the allies of these genera, 
to the amount of between four and five hundred. 
They are not prominently distinguished for their 
uses in medicine, the arts, or domestic economy, 
but a few of the species of Agave appear to be by far 
the most important. Of the fibrous parts of the 
leaves and roots of some of these, are formed both 
coidage and paper. The sap of another forms a de- 
tergent article, used by the Mexicans as soap, and 
of the sour juice of another species of Agave a fer- 
mented acid liquor is prepared, and used by the 
Spaniards, under the name of pulque ; a prepara- 
tion only agreeable to those who have been accus- 
tomed to its use. 
Nerine curvifolia was originally published as an 
Amaryllis, with which it has close affinity. Under 
302. 
Class. 
hexandria. 
