42 GARFIELD PARK CONSERVATORY 
Africa and of the islands of the Pacific. It supplies the “‘ifit” used in 
Guam as a cabinet and construction wood. 
Agave. The agave, a native of the hot desert regions of America, 
belongs to the Amaryllidaceae, the family to which the amaryllis 
belongs. About 325 species have been described, but the nomenclature 
is most confused. One species is native as far north as Maryland; 
but by far the greater number of species are found in Mexico. This 
collection numbers 20 species, and is a comparatively large one. The 
agave is grown in the United States chiefly for its decorative value; 
but it is one of the most useful of all plants in Mexico, where it 
supplies the natives with food, drink, fiber, soap, and razor strops. 
The species of most interest in this collection are the following: 
Agave atrovirens, from which pulque and mescal are made. If the 
flower bud is cut out just before flowering, the plant will yield several 
gallons of sweet sap daily for some weeks. The fresh sap makes an 
excellent drink; fermented it produces pulque. Distilled pulque 
produces mescal—one of the most highly intoxicating drinks known. 
If the agave plant is not wanted for sap production, the leaves may be 
cut off, stripped of the outer fiber, placed on hot stones, and covered 
with grass. They will then soon become a sweet, jelly-like mass, much 
relished by the Indians. 
Agave heteracantha, valuable for the fiber secured from the leaf covering. 
Agave sisalana, which yields the sisal hemp used in cord and rope 
making. This species, because of its economic value, was introduced 
into Florida and the West Indies nearly a century ago. It has natural- 
ized itself in many parts of the West Indies. 
Agave americana, or CENTURY PLANT, or FALSE ALOE, is a widespread 
species. It is used in Mexico for hedges along railroads. It furnishes 
valuable fiber. The juice of the leaves will lather in water like soap. 
The flowering stems, when dried and cut in slices, form natural razor 
strops. 
Aleurites moluccana, or CANDLEBERRY TREE, or CANDLE-NuT TREE, 
or VARNISH TREE, is a native of the Malay region that belongs to the 
Euphorbiaceae—a vast family to which belong the common snow-on- 
the-mountain, flowering spurge, castor-oil plant, and crotons. The 
candleberry tree is cultivated throughout the tropics for the oil secured 
from its seeds. This oil dries more quickly than linseed oil and affords 
a harder, more nearly waterproof surface. The seeds yield 60% oil. 
The oil is used for lighting and for food, as well as for varnish making. 
The tree is an excellent shade tree. The wood has timber value. 
Allamanda cathartica, var. Hendersonii, or GOLDEN TRUMPET, belongs 
to the Apocynaceae, or Dogbane family. This native of Guiana is an 
exceptionally fine climbing plant, especially good for conservatory 
roofs. The flowers are a brilliant orange-yellow, twice the size of 
oleander flowers. A second species, A. neriifolia, is not so strong a 
climber as the golden trumpet, but is included in this collection because 
of its richly striped flowers. 
