Great American Aloe.

CLASS VI. ORDER I.

HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointal.

ESSENTIAL GENERIC CHARACTER.

Calyx nullus. Corolla monopetala, sex-partita. Stamina sena, corolla longiora. Germen inferum. Stylus longior staminibus. Capsula trilocularis, trivalvis. Semina numerosa.

Empalement none. Blossom one-petalled, six-parted. Chives six, longer than the blossom. Seed-bud beneath. Shaft longer than the chives. Capsule three-celled, three-valved. Seeds many.

SPECIFIC CHARACTER.

Agave, acaulis, foliis dentatis, spinosis: scapo e medio ramoso: floribus terminalibus in umbellis densissime capitatis: tubo corollæ læte viridi, e medio angustato: staminibus corolla longioribus: stylo staminibus longiore.

Agave, without a stem; leaves toothed and thorny: flower-stem in the centre branched: the flowers terminate the branches in close-headed umbels: the tube of the blossom is greenish, and narrowed in the centre: the chives are longer than the flowers, and the style longer than the chives.

REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.