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Dasylirion (From dasys thick and lirion)

(from dasys, thick, and lirion, a lily). ORD. Liliaceae. Very ornamental greenhouse evergreens, allied to Nolina. Flowers dioecious, in dense panicles; flower-stems sometimes 10ft. or 12ft. in height. Leaves crowded, linear, gracefully drooping. They thrive in a compost of two parts loam, one peat, and one sand. Perfect drainage and a plentiful supply of water during the summer months, are important cultural items. Increased by seed. Dasylirions form admirable plants for sub-tropical gardening, or for conservatory and indoor decoration.

D. acrotrichum (hair-tipped).* fl. white; panicle dense, cylindrical, 4ft. to 5ft. long. l. densely rosulate, recurved, linear, 2ft. to 3ft. long, less than 1in. broad, with a long fibrous tuft at apex; marginal spines sharp, yellowish. Trunk stout, simple. h. 6ft. to 10ft. Mexico, 1851. SYN. D. gracile. (B. M. 5030.) D. a. brevifolium (short-leaved). l. shorter than those of the type, rarely more than 2ft. in length, not becoming pendulous.

D. glaucophyllum (milky-green-leaved).* fl. white; panicles narrow, 3ft. to 4ft. long; peduncles elongated; flower-stem 10ft. to 12ft. high. l. dense, 2ft. to 3ft. long, about 3/4in. broad, glaucous; margin armed with small teeth. h. 12ft. Mexico, 1846. SYN. D. glaucum. (B. M. 5041.) The variety latifolium has broader leaves, and is more robust in growth than the type. D. glaucum (grey). A synonym of D. glaucophyllum.

D. gracile (graceful). A synonym of D. acrotrichum.

D. graminifolium (grass-leaved). fl. white; inflorescence 8ft. to 9ft. long; panicle narrow. l. in a dense rosette, linear, 3ft. to 4ft. long, six to seven lines broad, green; marginal prickles half to one line long. Trunk short. h. 8ft. Mexico, 1835.

D. Hartwegianum (Hartweg's). A synonym of D. Hookeri. D. Hookeri (Hooker's). fl. purplish; inflorescence about 1 1/2ft. long; peduncles short; panicle dense. l. narrow, linear, 1 1/2ft. to 2ft. long, two to three lines broad, pale glaucous green; margin serrate. Caudex a gigantic tuber, with the leaves springing in fascicles from tubercles on its surface. h. 3ft. Mexico, 1846. SYN. D. Hartwegianum. (B. M. 5099.) D. laxiflorum (loose-flowered). A synonym of D. serratifolium. D. serratifolium (saw-leaved). fl. white; panicle dense, 1ft. long. l. 2ft. long, nearly 1in. broad; marginal teeth half to one-and-a-half lines long. Stem stout. Mexico. SYN. D. laxiflorum.