Agave L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1980, Flora Europaea. Volume 5. Alismataceae to Orchidaceae (Monocotyledones), Cambridge: Cambridge University Press : 74

1. Agave L. 3

Rhizomatous herbs or short-stemmedshrubs, usuallystoloniferous. Flowers tubular, erect. Hypanthialtube half aslong to nearly as long as perianth-segments. Stamens andstylestrongly exserted; filaments tapering graduallyfrombase toapex; anthers large, introrse, versatile. Ovaryinferior; stylecylindrical; stigma small, 3-lobed. Seedsflat.

It is probable that otherspecies, inaddition tothetwo de-

scribed below, are locally naturalized in S.E. France and N.W. Italy, but reliable information is not available.

Leaves ± glaucous, with terminal spine 2-3 cm; peduncle equalling or shorter than the panicle 1. americana Leaves dark green, with terminal spine 4-6(-10) cm; peduncle

2-3 times as long as the panicle 2. atrovirens