Beschorneria
(in honour of H. Beschorner, a German botanist). ORD. Amaryllideae. Greenhouse evergreen succulents, allied to Littaea and Feurcraea. Perianth deeply six-parted; segments linear spathulate, tubulose-connivent, often spreading at the point; stamens six, about as long as the perianth. For culture, &c., see Agave and Aloe. B. bracteata (bracteate). fl. at first green, turning yellowish-red when mature; panicle 2ft. to 3ft. long; branches many-flowered and corymbose, subtended by large scariose reddish bracts. l. in a dense rosette, 12in. to 18in. long, thin, glaucous green with scabrous margin. h. 5ft. to 6ft. Mexico. (B. M. 6641.)
B. Decosteriana (Decoster's). fl. green, tinged with red, pendulous, bracteate; panicle 2ft. to 3ft. long, inclined, with numerous bracts. l. numerous, spreading, 18in. to 24in. long, by 1in. to 1 1/2in. broad; edges minutely serrulate. h. 8ft. Mexico, about 1880.
B. Tonelii (Tonel's).* fl. tubular, 2 1/2in. long, drooping, pedicellate, dark blood-red below and down the centre, the rest very bright verdigris green; panicle 2ft. long, slender, inclined; bracts several to each fascicle of flowers; scape 4ft. high, red-purple, l. few, spreading, 15in. to 20in. long, by 2 1/2in. broad, acuminate and keeled beneath towards the top, minutely serrulate. Mexico, 1872. (B. M. 6091.)
B. tubiflora (tube-flowered). fl. greenish-purple, nutant, fascicled, bracteate; fascicles remote, secund; scapes erect, long, simple May. l. radical, linear, channelled, recurved, spinosely denticulate. h. 6ft. Mexico, 1845. (B. M. 4642.)
B. yuccoides (Yucca-like). fl. bright green, pendent, racemose, with rich rosy-red bracts; scapes slender, coral-red, simple. May and June. l. radical, thickish, lanceolate, acute, 1ft. to 1 1/2ft. long h. 4ft. Mexico.