DISTRIBUCION DE LOS AGAVES 
43 
A. pramiana Berger. 
A. ragusa Terracc., floreció en Palermo en los jardines de Enrico Ragusa 
y fue descrito en 1897. 
A. regeliana Jacobi. 
A. sórdida Berger. 
A. splendens Jacobi. 
A. troubetskoyana Baker. 
A. washingtonensis (Baker) Rose. 
S U M M A R Y 
In this paper the author mentions the origin of the Agaves, considering 
them to be native to America and especially the Central Plateau of México, 
from which they have spread until they have reached a very wide geographical 
distribution.' Reference is then made to the ¡mportance of the group of 
Agaves as plants that influence the economy and even the social life of the 
Mexican people. He mentions the confusión that exists in the literature and 
the enormous scientific synonymy that, as time goes on, complicares the 
knowledge of the plants of the group. He considers such a thing to be due to 
the fact that many species have been described from herbarium specimens or 
from cultivated plants the localities of which are undertain or unknown. 
He enumerates the greographical-botanical regions of the Mexican Republic 
in relation to the species of Agaves that are found in various zones and in- 
cludes a list of those that are found with most frequency. 
Conclusions : 
1. The species of the genus Agave L. originated in the Central Plateau 
of México. 
2. Their distribution is very extensive, reaching from Utah and Maryiand 
to Venezuela and Columbia. 
3. They have extended, through several geologic periods, to the Carib- 
bean Islands, the AVest Indies and the Bahamas. 
4. At the present time there exists a confusión in the synonymy that adds 
to the difficulty of their knowledge. 
5. Considered from an industrial standpoint, the Agaves form three large 
groups: 1. Textiles. 2. Pulque plants. 3. Plants that are used for the extraction 
of alcohol (mezcal, tequila, etc.) 
6. They are distributed in México forming associations, simorphias and 
peniclimaxes that correspond clearly to the various geographical-botanical 
regions that have been described by Professor Ochoterena. 
BIBLIOGRAFIA 
Baker, J. G.—Handbook of the Amaryllidae, págs. 163 a 198.. London, 
1888. 
Berger, Akwin. —Die Agaven. Beitrage zu einer monographie ,Jena, 1915. 
