the common American aloe; a genus of the monogynia order belonging to the hexandra class of plants. Of this genus, botanical writers enumerate eight species.

Species. 1. The Americana, or great American aloe. The stems of this, when the plants are vigorous, generally rise upwards of 20 feet high, and branch out on every side towards the top, so as to form a kind of pyramid: the slender shoots being garnished with greenish yellow flowers, which stand erect, and come out in thick clusters at every joint: they make a fine appearance, and continue long in beauty; a succession of new flowers being produced for near three months in favourable seasons, if the plant is protected from the autumnal colds. colds. The seeds do not ripen in England. It has been generally thought, that these plants do not flower till they are 100 years old; but this is a mistake; for the time of their flowering depends on their growth; so that in hot countries where they grow fast, and expand many leaves every season, they will flower in a few years; but in colder climates, where their growth is slow, it will be much longer before they shoot up their stem. There is a variety of this species with striped leaves, which are pretty common in the English gardens. 2. The Virginia, or American aloe, with a simple stalk. This so much resembles the last, as to be distinguishable only by good judges. The principal difference is, that the leaves of this are narrower toward their extremity, and of a paler colour: the stems of this sort do not rise so high as the first, nor do they branch in the same manner, but the flowers are collected into a close head at the top; they are, however, of the same shape and colour. 3. The fetida, or pict, hath long, narrow, stiff leaves, of a pale green colour: the plants rarely grow above three feet in height, but the flower-stem rises to near 20, and branches out much like that of the first, but more horizontally; the flowers are of the same shape, but smaller, and of a greener colour. After the flowers are past, instead of seed-vessels, young plants succeed them; which, falling off, are to be received in pots, where they soon take root, and become perfect. This sort never sends out off-sorts from the roots; so that it can only be multiplied when it flowers; and presently after the young plants have dropped off, the old one dies. 4. The tuberosa, or American aloe with a tuberous root, agrees with the last in its general characters; only that the leaves are indented, and each of them terminates in a strong thorn. 5. The vivipara, so called from its producing young plants after the flowers are fallen off, never grows to a large size; the flower-stem rises to about 12 feet in height, and branches out in the same manner as the third sort, with which it agrees in most of its other properties. 6. The karratto is as yet so little known in Britain, that no particular description of it can be given. 7. The Vera Cruz so greatly resembles the first as to be scarce distinguishable. 8. The rigida hath long, narrow stiff leaves, which are entire, and terminated by a stiff black spine. It is very little known.

Culture. The third, fourth, fifth, sixth, and eighth sorts are so tender, that they cannot be preserved through the winter in England unless they are placed in a warm stove; nor will they thrive when set abroad in summer, and therefore must constantly remain in the stove, observing to let them enjoy a large share of free air in warm weather. They require a light sandy earth, and should have little wet in winter; but, in warm weather, may be gently watered twice a-week. They should be shifted every summer into fresh pots; but they must not be too large; for if their roots are not confined, they will not thrive. Such as send out off-sorts from their roots may be propagated by them; the others, from seeds obtained from the countries where they grow, or the young plants produced at flowering time.