Seeds many, two-ranked, lying on each other.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Yucca floribunda, ramosa, patens: corollis campanulatis, pendulis: foliis ensiformibus, plicatis, apice mucronato.
Habitat in America boreali.
Adam’s Needle, with numerous flowers branching and spreading: blossoms bell-shaped, and hanging down. Leaves sword-shaped and plaited, with a mucronated point.
Native of North America.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The end of a leaf.
2. The plant in miniature.
3. The chives and pointal.
4. Seed-bud and pointal.
5. The seed-bud cut transversely.
Of this genus of plants there are as yet known but four species. The present one, from its specific title, might naturally be supposed to possess a magnificent exterior of unrivalled beauty; which is by no means the case: for although it is a grand plant when in fine bloom, the term of gloriosa must certainly be regarded as a metaphysical hyperbole, very inapplicable to any plant ever so beautiful. It is indigenous to North America, and of great utility to the natives, who make cords from the stringy texture of the leaves, and use it in the fabrication of their houses, to fasten the ends of them together. Their swinging beds, called Hamacks, are also said to be made of the same materials; and most probably the sailor’s bed, so well known by the appellation of Hammock, derives its title from the Hamack of the Indians. It is easily increased from the young shoots, which become flowering plants in about five years in the open ground: but if kept in the green-house, it might remain for twenty years without blooming, for want of sufficient air and sun to bring it to maturity.
Our figure are was made from a plant ten feet high, in luxuriant bloom, at Hedsor Lodge, the seat of Lord Boston.[Pg 83]