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P L A T E CCCCLXXIII.
Y U C C A G L O R I O S A .
Superb Yucca.
C L A S S VI. ORDER L
HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. Six Chives. One Pointal.
GENERIC CHARACTER.
C A L Y X nullus.
C O R O L L A campanulata, sex-partita, unguibus
cohaerens ; laciniis ovatis, maximis, pateiitibus.
S T A M I N A . Filamenta sex, brevissima, superne
crassiora, reflexa. Antherae rainirase.
P I S T I L L U M . Germen obloiigum, obtusum, triquetrum,
staminibus longius. Stylus nullus.
Stigma trisulcum, obtusum : laciniis
bifidis, perviis.
P E R I C A R P I U M . Capsula oblonga, obtusa, triangularis,
trilocularis, trivalvis.
S E M I N A plurima, gemino ordine incumbentia.
E M P A L E M E N T none.
BLOSSOM bell-shaped, six-divided, fastened together
by the claws. The segments ovale,
large, and spreading.
C H I V E S . Six threads, very short, thick above,
and reflexed. Tips small.
P O I N T A L . Seed-bud oblong, blunt, tliree-sided,
longer than the chives. Shaft none. Summit
three-furrowed, obtuse. I'he segments
are bifid, and may be passed through.
S E E D - V E S S E L . Capsule oblong, obtuse, threeangled,
three-celled, three-valved.
S E E D S many, two-ranked, lying on each other.
SPECIFIC CHARACTER.
Y U C C A floribunda, ramosa,
campanulatis, pendülis :
bus, plicatis, apice mucronato,
Habitat in America boreali.
patens : corollis
foliis ensiformi-
A D A M ' S NEEDLE, with numerous flowers,
branching and spreading:
shaped, and hanging down,
shaped and plaited, with
point.
Native of North America,
blossoms bell-
Leaves sworda
mucronated
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 tlieir houses, to fasten the ends of them together.
Theu- 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 shoot,s, 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 was made from a plant ten feet high, in luxuriant bloom, at Hedsor Lodge, the seat of
Lord Boston.
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