A. Celsiana (Cels's).* fl. tinged purplish-brown, 2in. long, in a dense spike, 1ft. or more long, and 6in. to 8in. in diameter when expanded; scape 4ft. long, the lower bract leaves lanceolate, the upper ones subulate. l. twenty to thirty in a rosette, oblong-spathulate, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 4in. to 5in. broad at the middle, narrowed to 2½in. to 3in. above the base, persistently glaucous, the point hardly at all pungent; spines very unequal in size and shape, green, largest brown and horny at the top. Mexico, 1839. This is a beautiful species, the stem of which scarcely rises off the surface of the ground. See Fig. 46.

A. coccinea (scarlet). fl. unknown. l. twenty to thirty in a dense rosette, oblanceolate-spathulate, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 4in. to 6in. broad two-thirds of the way up, narrowed to 3in. above the dilated base, where it is 1in. to 1¼in. thick, deep heavy green; terminal spine 1½in. or more in length, red; side prickles irregular, deltoid, unequal, nearly straight, 1/6in. to ¼in. long, red. Mexico, 1859.

A. cochlearis (cochleate). fl. yellowish green, above 4in. long, in dense clusters. l. forming a sessile rosette 10ft. broad, oblong-spathulate, 5ft. to 6ft. long, above 1ft. broad, 5in. thick at the base, opaque green, with a deeply excavated face; terminal spine very stout, pungent; side prickles curved variously, middle sized, deltoid. Stems 26ft. high. Mexico, previous to 1867.

A. Consideranti (Considerant's). Synonymous with A. Victoriæ Regina.

A. Corderoyi (Corderoy's).* fl. unknown. l. forty to fifty in a dense rosette, rigidly erecto-patent, ensiform, 1½ft. long, ¾in. to 1in. broad, bright green; terminal spine hard, brown, 1in. long; side prickles moderately close, erecto-patent, dark brown, 1/6in. long. Mexico, 1868. A very distinct and pretty species.

A. crenata (crenated). Referred to A. Scolymus.

A. cucullata (hooded). Referred to A. Scolymus.

A. dasylirioides (Dasylirion-like).* fl. yellow, about 1½in. long; spike as long as the scape, often decurved; lower bracts much longer than the flowers; pedicels obsolete; scape 6ft. long, densely clothed with spreading subulate bract leaves, the lower ones 1ft. long. l. eighty to a hundred in a dense rosette, linear-ensiform, 1½ft. to 3ft. long, about 1in. broad, narrowing gradually from the middle to a short brown pungent point, pale glaucous green, rigidly leathery; edge minutely denticulate. Mexico, 1846.

A. d. dealbata (whitened). A variety of preceding, but with more glaucous foliage.

FIG. 47. AGAVE DENSIFLORA.

A. densiflora (close-flowered).* fl. yellowish-red, 1½in. to 2in. long, on a dense spike, 2ft. long; pedicels very short; scape, including the spike, 6ft. long, the lower bracts ascending, the upper ones spreading. l. thirty to forty in a stemless rosette, oblanceolate-spathulate, 2ft. to 3ft. long, and 2½in. to 5in. broad, bright green when mature; terminal spine ½in. long, thick, pungent, slightly decurrent; side spines crowded, short, bright chestnut brown. Mexico (previous to) 1857. See Fig. 47.

A. Deserti (Desert's).* fl. yellow, under 2in. long, on a thyrsoid panicle, the branches very short, the lower horizontal, the upper ascending; pedicels short; scape 4ft. to 10ft. high, 1in. to 2in. thick at the base, furnished with distant lanceolate acuminate toothed bracts. l. few, in a rosette, oblanceolate, 6in. to 12in. long, 1½in. to 2in. broad above the middle, thick, fleshy, very glaucous; face deeply concave; terminal spine 1in. to 2in. long, slender; prickles crowded, strong, hooked, horny, nearly ¼in. long. California, 1877.

A. Desmetiana (De Smet's). Probably synonymous with A. miradorensis.

A. Elemeetiana (Elemeet's).* fl. yellowish-green, 1in. to 1½in. long, in a dense spike 8ft. to 9ft. long, 7in. to 8in. in diameter when expanded; pedicels ¼in. long; scape, including the spike, 12ft. to 13ft. high, stiffly erect, lower 3ft. to 4ft., barren, with squarrose lanceolate bracts. l. twenty to twenty-five in a rosette, lanceolate-oblong, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 3in. to 6in. wide, slightly glaucous; face flat above the middle terminal spine, not pungent, the margin pale and quite entire. Stemless. A very distinct species. Mexico, 1864.

A. Fenzliana (Fenzl's). Synonymous with A. Hookeri.

A. ferox (fierce). fl. unknown. l. about twenty in a rosette, oblong-spathulate, 4in. to 8in. broad; face nearly flat, except at the top, slightly glaucous green; terminal spine above 1in. long, hard, pungent; margin slightly wavy between the large dark brown teeth, which are about ¼in. long, and curved at the top. Mexico, 1861.

A. filifera (thread-bearing).* fl. greenish, about 2in. long; pedicels very short and stout, in a dense spike 2ft. to 3ft. long; scape 3ft. to 4ft. long, its bract-leaves subulate, the lower ones ascending, the upper squarrose. l. sixty to a hundred in a dense rosette, stiff, straight, ensiform, 6in. to 9in. long, 1in. broad at the middle, gradually narrowing to a grey pungent tip; face flat, the continuous grey edge splitting off copiously into irregular spreading grey wiry threads; outer leaves of the rosette not all recurved, but spreading stiffly. Mexico.

A. f. filamentosa (thready).* A form with larger leaves and scape; including the spike, 10ft. to 12ft. high. A well-known, handsome variety.

A. Galeotti (Galeotti's). fl. unknown. l. thirty to forty in a dense rosette, 2ft. to 3ft. broad, oblong-spathulate, 1ft. to 1½ft. long, 2in. to 6in. broad; face rather flat or convex, green; terminal spine hard, pungent; prickles close, straight, or slightly hooked, purplish-black. Mexico, 1877.

A. Ghiesbreghtii (Ghiesbreght's). fl. unknown. l. thirty to forty in a dense rosette, rigid, lanceolate, 9in. to 12in. long, 2in. to 3in. broad, bright glossy green; terminal spine ½in. long, pungent; border narrow, red-brown till a late stage; side prickles numerous, irregular, two to three lines long. Mexico, 1862. Very handsome dwarf species. A. Rohanii and A. Leguayana are mere varieties.

A. heteracantha (various-spined).* fl. greenish, 1½in. long, on a dense spike 3ft. long; scape 3ft. to 4ft. long. l. fifty to eighty in a rosette, rigid, ensiform, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 2in. to 2½in. broad in the middle, dull green, with numerous darker green lines on the back; terminal point 1in. long; side spines numerous, strongly hooked, lanceolate. Stemless. Mexico.

A. Hookeri (Hooker's).* fl. large, yellow, very numerous, in stalked panicled cymes. l. thirty to forty in a sessile rosette, 8ft. or 9ft. in diameter, oblanceolate-spathulate, bright green on the face, rather glaucous on the back, 4ft. to 5ft. long, 5in. to 9in. broad, 2in. to 3in. thick; terminal spine 2in. long, and decurrent for nearly half a foot; face flattish or slightly concave; side prickles irregular, brown and horny, about ¼in. long, and curved in different directions. Mexico. SYN. A. Fenzliana. A rare and noble species, very massive.

A. horrida (horrid).* fl. unknown. l. thirty to forty in a dense rosette, rigid, lanceolate-spathulate, 8in. to 12in. long, 1in. to 2in. broad, bright green; terminal spine pungent, nearly 1in. long; margin furnished with a continuous broad grey border, with copious prickles ⅜in. to ½in. long.

A. h. Gilbeyi (Gilbey's).* l. about thirty, 3in. to 4in. long, 2in. broad, dark green with a pale stripe down the middle, three to four large spines on each side. Mexico, 1873.

A. h. lævior (smoother). l. somewhat narrower, longer, with marginal spines less strongly developed, and of a paler colour. Mexico, 1870.

A. h. macrodonta (long-toothed). l. fifty to sixty, 2½in. broad; spines larger than in the typical form. Mexico, 1876.

A. h. micrantha (small-toothed). Border of leaf narrower, and spines smaller, than in the typical form.

A. Jacobiana (Jacob's). Synonymous with A. Salmiana.

A. Kerchovei (Kerchove's).* fl. unknown. l. thirty to forty in a stemless rosette, stiff, rigid, typically ensiform, 6in. to 12in. long, 1½in. to 2in. broad, narrowing gradually to a pungent spine 1in. long, dull green, with a distinct pale central band, rounded on the back, without any stripes of dark green, the margin with a continuous moderately broad grey border; side prickles irregular, grey, lanceolate, curved, ⅙in. to ¼in. long. SYN. A. Beaucarnei.

There are several varieties of A. Kerchovei, of which the following are the most important:—

A. K. diplacantha (double-spined).* With very few distant, small teeth, often collected or united in pairs.

A. K. inermis (unarmed). Dwarf, with spines entirely obsolete.

A. K. macrodonta (long-toothed). l. 1½ft. long, without any distinct central band, and with copious irregular grey lanceolate prickles, about ⅓in. long.

A. K. pectinata (comb-like). l. 1ft. long, 2¼in. broad, without any central band.

A. lophantha (crest-flowered).* fl. greenish, arranged in a dense spike 4ft. to 5ft. long; scape 7ft. to 8ft. long, its leaves brown, the lower ones 6in. long. l. thirty to forty in a rosette, rigid, ensiform, 2ft. to 3ft. long, 1½in. broad at the middle, rather concave down the face, rounded on the back, not marked with any lines, dull green; terminal spine 1in. long; margins bordered by a very narrow continuous grey hoary line, furnished with distant linear falcate teeth, about ¹/₁₂in. long, sessile. Mexico.

A. l. cœrulescens (bluish).* l. with a decided glaucous bloom.

A. l. longifolia (long-leaved). A mere variety of above species.

A. macracantha (long-spined).* fl. greenish, 2in. long, ten to twelve in a loose raceme 6in. long, all solitary on ascending pedicels ¼in. to ½in. long; scape 2ft. to 3ft. long; bracts erect. l. thirty to fifty in a stiff rosette 1ft. to 2ft. broad, oblanceolate, 6in. to 12in. long, 1in. to 1½in. broad, very stiff and rigid, very glaucous; face rather thicker in the lower half; terminal spine nearly black, very pungent, ½in. long; side prickles purplish-black, sub-distant, ⅛in. long, with a large point straight or slightly hooked. With a short stem, or stemless. Mexico, 1830. It has many varieties, among which are A. Bessereriana and A. flavescens.

A. Maximiliana (Maximilian's).* fl. unknown. l. about twenty in a sessile rosette, oblanceolate-spathulate, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 1¾in. to 3in. broad; face slightly glaucous green; terminal spine pungent, brown, 1in. broad; side prickles bright chestnut brown, larger and more irregular than in A. americana, more hooked, and furnished with longer and sharper points, reaching ¼in. long. Mexico. A very distinct species.

A. micracantha (small-spined). fl. yellowish, 1½in. long, in a dense spike 3ft. to 4ft. long, 6in. to 7in. broad when expanded. l. twenty to thirty in a shortly stalked rosette, oblanceolate oblong, 15in. to 18in. long, 3in. to 5in. broad above the middle, narrowed to 2in. to 3in. above the base, bright green; face flattish above the centre; terminal spine red brown, moderately firm; the copious close reddish-brown horny teeth about ¹/₁₂in. long, the upper ones ascending, the lower deflexed. Mexico, 1860.

A. miradorensis (Mirador).* fl. unknown. l. about thirty in a sessile rosette, oblanceolate-spathulate, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 2in. to 2½in. broad above the middle, thin but firm in texture, very glaucous, with a firm red-brown terminal spine 1in. long; side prickles very minute, crowded, colourless, five or six to an inch in the centre of the leaf. Mexico, 1869. SYN. (probably) A. Desmetiana.

A. Noackii (Noack's). A synonym of A. Sartorii.

A. ornata (adorned). A synonym of A. americana picta.

A. Ortgiesiana (Ortgies'). A dwarf form of A. schidigera with a pale central band to the leaf. Mexico, 1861. A widely-distributed and desirable species.

A. pendula (pendulous). Synonymous with A. Sartorii.

A. polyacantha (many-spined).* fl. greenish-yellow, 1½in. to 2in. long; flowering-stem 8ft. to 12ft. high, including the dense spike, which is 3ft. to 4ft. long. l. about thirty in a sessile rosette, oblanceolate-spathulate, rigid, 1ft. to 2ft. long, 2½in. to 5in. broad above the middle, bright green, slightly glaucous when young; terminal spine dark brown, pungent, ½in. to ¾in. long; side prickles crowded, deltoid, dark chestnut brown, irregular, ¹/₁₂in. or ⅛in. long, all sub-patent. Mexico, 1800. SYNS. A. uncinata, A. xalapensis.

A. Poselgerii (Poselger's). fl. purplish, rather more than 1in. long; scape, including the spike, 6ft. to 10ft. l. twenty to thirty in a dense rosette, rigid, ensiform, 1ft. to 1½ft. long; 1½in. to 2in. broad at the middle, dull green, with a broad pale band down to the face, rounded and marked with numerous distinct green lines down the back; margin furnished with a continuous straight, moderately broad edge; terminal spine 1in. long, brown, pungent; side prickles moderately close, lanceolate, hooked, 1/6in. long. Trunk, 4in. to 6in. long. Texas.

A. potatorum (drinkers'). fl. greenish yellow, 3in. long; scape 12ft. high, including the thyrsoid panicle, which is 4ft. to 5ft. long. l. about twenty in a dense sessile rosette, 4ft. to 5ft. broad, oblong-spathulate, 2ft. to 2½ft. long, 7in. to 9in. broad above the middle, a dull glaucous green; face slightly concave; terminal spines hard, pungent, 1½in. to 2in. long; side prickles deltoid-cuspidate, about ¼in. long, with the edge slightly wavy between them. Mexico, 1830.

A. pruinosa (frosty).* fl. unknown. l. ten to twenty in a dense rosette, spreading, oblanceolate-oblong, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 4in. to 5in. broad above the middle, soft and fleshy in texture, pale glaucous green; terminal spine very weak; edge furnished with minute irregular spreading deltoid serrations, not more than quarter line long. Mexico, 1863. A very distinct species.

A. Roezliana (Roezl's). fl. unknown. l. twenty to thirty in a sessile rosette, stiff, ensiform, 6in. to 7in. long, 1in. to 1½in. broad at the middle, bright glossy green, with a distinct pale band down the centre, broadly rounded on the back, without any darker green lines, margined with a continuous moderately broad border, red brown at first, fading into grey when old; terminal spines bright reddish brown, pungent, ½in. to ¾in. long; side prickles copious, spreading, lanceolate, curved, ¼in. long. Mexico, 1869.

ACACIA LEPROSA (LEMON). A. LINEATA (ORANGE).

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A. Salmiana (Prince Salm-Dyck's).* fl. greenish yellow, 4in. long; panicle thyrsoid, 6ft. to 8ft. long, with erecto-patent branches and flowers in dense clusters; scape, exclusive of the panicle, 20ft. high. l. twelve to thirty in a dense rosette, which is often 5ft. to 6ft. broad, oblanceolate-spathulate, 2ft. to 4ft. long, 4in. to 6in. broad above the middle, a dull, slightly glaucous green; face more or less concave; terminal spine 1½in. to 2in. long, hard and pungent; side prickles ¼in. long, chestnut brown, hooked up or down. Mexico, 1860. SYNS. A. atrovirens, A. Jacobiana, A. tehuacensis.

A. S. latissima (very broad). l. 2ft. to 3ft. long, by 8in. to 9in. broad above the middle.

A. Sartorii (Sartor's). fl. greenish, 1½in. long; pedicels very short, in a dense spike about 3ft. long, 5in. to 6in. broad when expanded; scape 3ft. to 4ft. long, the green linear ascending bracts 2in. to 4in. long. l. thirty to forty spaced out in a loose rosette, ensiform, 1½ft. to 2ft. long, 3in. broad at the middle, bright green, with a pale band down the middle; face flat; terminal spine small, not pungent; side prickles minute, crowded, spreading, tipped with red-brown. Caudex 1ft. to 2ft. long, sometimes forked. SYNS. A. cæspitosa, A. Noackii, A. pendula.

A. schidigera (spine-bearing).* fl. almost identical with A. filifera. l. fifty to eighty in a dense sessile rosette, stiff, ensiform, 12in. to 15in. long, ¾in. to 1in. broad at the middle, similar in colour and texture to those of A. filifera, but the grey marginal border, and splitting off into flat shavings, not mere threads.

A. Schnittspahni (Schnittspahn's). Referred to A. Scolymus.

A. Scolymus (Scolymus). fl. greenish yellow, 2½in. to 3in. long; branches few, with the flowers at the end in very dense clusters; scape 14ft. to 16ft. high, including the thyrsoid panicle, which is 4ft. long and 2ft. broad, furnished with green bracts. l. twenty to thirty in a dense rosette 1½ft. to 3ft. broad, oblong-spathulate, 9in. to 18in. long, 3in. to 6in. broad above the middle, very glaucous, abruptly terminating in a pungent spine, 1in. or more long; side prickles chestnut brown, about ¼in. long; edge wavy between them; those on the lower half smaller and directed downwards. Mexico, 1830. Other so-called species referred to this are A. amœna, A. crenata, A. cucullata, A. Schnittspahni, and A. Verschaffeltii.

A. S. Saundersii (Saunders'). fl. about 1ft. long; teeth very large.

A. Seemanni (Seemann's).* fl. unknown. l. twenty in a sessile rosette, 1ft. to 1½ft. broad, oblong-spathulate, 6in. to 9in. long, 3in. to 3½in. broad at the middle, narrowed to 2in. above the dilated base, slightly glaucous; face flat, except close to the top; terminal spine pungent, dark brown, ½in. long; side prickles large, moderately close, slightly curved upwards or downwards. Guatemala, 1868. There are two or three garden forms of this species.

A. Shawii (Shaw's).* fl. greenish yellow, 3in. to 3½in. long; panicle thyrsoid, about 2ft. long and broad; clusters dense, composed of thirty to forty flowers, surrounded by large foliaceous fleshy bracts. l. fifty to sixty, or more, forming a dense globose sessile rosette 2ft. in diameter, oblong-spathulate, 8in. to 10in. long, 3½in. to 4½in. broad at the middle, deep green; terminal spine brown, 1in. long, the upper third or quarter entire, the rest furnished with crowded upcurved lanceolate prickles, ¼in. to ½in. long. California, 1877. This species is very rare at present, but is a most distinct and handsome plant.

A. sobolifera (soboliferous). fl. greenish yellow, 2in. to 2½in. long, in a deltoid panicle, of which the lower panicles are 9in. to 12in. long, and bear a hundred flowers each; pedicels ¼in. to 1in. long; scape 8ft. to 10ft. high, 2½in. thick at the base. l. twenty to forty in a shortly caulescent rosette, oblanceolate-oblong-spathulate, 2ft. to 3ft. long, 3in. to 5in. broad at the middle, very bright green; face deeply channelled, the border much raised and tip often recurved; terminal spine sub-pungent, chestnut brown, ½in. long; side prickles distant, brown, hooked, ¹/₁₂in. to ⅛in. long. West Indies, 1678.

A. striata (striated-leaved).* fl. brownish green outside, yellow inside, 1in. to 1½in. long; pedicels very short; spike dense, 2ft. to 3ft. long; bracts linear, shorter than the flowers; scape 6ft. to 8ft. high, including the spike, furnished with numerous spreading subulate bracts, which are 2in. to 3in. long. l. 150 to 200 in a dense rosette, linear-ensiform, 2ft. to 2½ft. long, ¼in. to ⅜in. broad above the deltoid dilated base, where they are ¼in. thick and 1in. broad, narrowed gradually from the top of the base to the point, rigid in texture, glaucous green; face rather keeled, and the back more so; point brown, pungent, ½in. long; edges minutely serrulate. Mexico, 1856.

A. s. echinoides (Echinus-like). l. about 6in. long, ⅓in. broad at the middle; face flat. Mexico, 1869. Dwarfer and stiffer in habit than the variety stricta.

A. s. recurva (recurved-leaved). l. longer than in the type, 3ft. to 4ft., more or less falcate, narrower, and decidedly convex on both surfaces.

A. s. stricta (upright). l. about 1ft. long, very stiff, ¼in. broad at the middle, both faces convex. A. Richardsii comes near to this variety.

A. tehuacensis (Tehuan). Synonymous with A. Salmiana.

A. uncinata (hooked). Synonymous with A. polyacantha.

A. univittata (one-striped).* fl. green, 1½in. long (or less); spike 10ft. to 12ft. long, 6in. to 7in. thick; pedicels ¼in. long; scape 4ft. long, exclusive of the spike, its bracts dense and squarrose. l. fifty to eighty in a stemless rosette, rigid, ensiform, 2ft. to 2½ft. long, 2in. to 3in. broad at the middle, narrowed slightly downwards, and very gradually upwards, dull green, with a broad pale band down the face, faintly lineate on the back; margin bordered by a narrow, continuous grey horny line, furnished with hooked lanceolate prickles, ⅛in. long, from ½in. to 1in. apart; terminal spine brown, pungent, 1in. long. Mexico, 1830.

A. utahensis (Utahan).* fl. yellowish, about 1in. long; peduncles ultimately ¼in. long; scapes, 5ft. to 7ft. high, including the 1ft. to 2ft. spike. l. stemless, ensiform, 6in. to 12in. long, 1in. to nearly 2in. broad, thick, glaucous; terminal spine channelled, pungent, about 1in. long; marginal prickles, ⅛in. to ½in. long, white, with a darker base. Southern Utah, 1881. This is a true alpine species, perfectly hardy, and of very easy culture.

A. Vanderdonckii (Vanderdonck's). Synonymous with A. xylacantha.

A. variegata (variegated).* fl. greenish, about 1½in. long; spike about 1ft. long, fifteen to twenty flowered; bracts minute, deltoid; scape 2ft. long, exclusive of the spike, bearing about twelve lanceolate bract leaves. l. fifteen to eighteen in a sessile rosette, spreading, ligulate-lanceolate, finally 12in. to 15in. long, 1in. to 2in. broad below the middle, narrowed slightly downwards, and gradually to the point, deeply channelled down the face, and copiously spotted with brown on a green ground; edge hard and tough, very obscurely serrulate. Texas, 1865. This very desirable variegated species is extremely rare in cultivation.

A. Verschaffeltii (Verschaffelt's). Referred to A. Scolymus.

A. Victoriæ Regina (Queen Victoria).* l. forty to fifty in a sessile rosette, stiff, rigid, lanceolate, 6in. long, 1½in. to nearly 2in. broad above the dilated base, narrowed gradually to a rather obtuse point, dead green, margined with a continuous white border, like that of A. filifera, not splitting up into threads, but leaving distinct white vertical bands where it is pressed against the neighbouring leaves; terminal spine ½in. long, black, pungent, with usually one or two small spines on each side of it. Mexico, 1875. This is also much too rare a plant. SYN. A. Consideranti.

A. virginica (Virginian).* fl. greenish yellow, 1in. to 1¼in. long; spike very loose, 1ft. to 1½ft. long; lower flowers with very short pedicels and lanceolate bracts, about ¼in. long; scape 2ft. to 3ft. high, exclusive of the spike, with only a few distant small bract leaves. l. ten to fifteen in a sessile rosette, spreading, lanceolate, 6in. to 12in. long, 1in. to 1½in. broad below the middle, narrowed gradually to the point and a little downwards; face channelled, undulated, pale green, or mottled with brown spots, the narrow hard and tough margin very obscurely serrulate. North America, 1765. A. conduplicata is said to be allied to this species.

A. vivipara (viviparous).* fl. greenish yellow, 1½in. to 2in. long, often changed into bulbillæ, which bear lanceolate leaves 6in. long before they fall and take root; inflorescence reaching a height of 20ft. or more, the deltoid panicle about a quarter of the length of the scape; corymbs on stout peduncles, pedicels short. l. twenty to fifty in a dense, shortly caulescent rosette, ensiform, 2ft. to 3ft. long, 1½in. to 2in. broad at the middle, whence it gradually narrows to the point, dull green when mature, thin but firm in texture, flat or channelled down the face; terminal spine firm, brown, ½in. long; side teeth brown, hooked, ¹/₁₂in. or less long. A very widely spread species throughout tropics of the Old World, 1731. SYNS. A. cantula, A. bulbifera.

A. Warelliana (Warell's).* l. about thirty in a rosette, oblong-spathulate, 9in. to. 10in. long, 3in. broad above the middle, narrowed to 2in. above the dilated base; face nearly flat, green, scarcely at all glaucous, tipped with a strong brown channelled spine 1in. long; border margined with close, very short teeth, dark purple when mature. Mexico. A rare but very handsome species.

A. Wislizeni (Wislizenius's). fl. 2½in. long; panicle thyrsoid, its branches 3in. to 6in. long; pedicels very short; scape 12ft. high. l. about thirty in a dense, rigid, sessile rosette, which is under 2ft. broad, oblong-spathulate, 3in. to 3½in. broad above the middle, very glaucous, concave in the upper part; terminal spine hard, pungent, dark brown, 1in. long, and decurrent down the border a little; side prickles ⅛in. long, dark purple, moderately close, those below the middle of the leaf smaller and curved downward. Mexico, 1847.

A. xalapensis. Synonymous with A. polyacantha.

A. xylacantha (woody-spined).* fl. green, 1½in. long; spike dense, rather shorter than the scape, its bracts linear-subulate; scape 5ft. to 6ft. long, its bracts subulate, all ascending, the lower ones 6in. to 8in. long. l. not more than twenty in a stemless rosette, ensiform, diverging irregularly and often curving, 1½ft. to 3ft. long, 2in. to 3in. (rarely 4in.) broad at the middle, narrowed gradually upwards, a slightly glaucous dead green, marked with a few darker green lines on the back, furnished with a broad continuous horny border and a few very large irregular hooked teeth, often united or collected in pairs, ½in. to ¾in. long, and ⅜in. to ½in. broad; terminal spine brown, pungent, 1in. long. Mexico. A long-known, widely-spread, and distinct species. SYNS. A. amurensis and A. Vanderdonckii.

A. x. hybrida is a striking dwarf variety with vittate leaves, and smaller, more crowded deltoid-cuspidate prickles than in the type. It is also commonly known as A. x. vittata and A. perbella.