Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-08-24
+ Communicated

may be interesting TO such persons as are dis
posed to yisitit. 1t is native of the tropical
regions of America, and is called the Century
Aloe, from beliefthat it produces its flowers
only once in an hundred years. This, however,
is popular error. In Brazil, and other tropi-
cal countries, where the growth OF the plant is
rapid, and many leaves are, expanded in sea-
son, the evolution Of the blossom is accomplish
ed in ten or twelve years. In colder climates,
longer time is required to enable the stem to
force its way through the central phalanx OF
opposing leaves. The stem rises to the height
of twenty feet, bearing clusters Of greenish-yel-
low flowers at the top, and from shoots at the
sides. The leaves are of a pale green, stiff,
thick, varying in length from two to FIVE feet,
narrow at the base, broad in the middle, armed
at the edges with short spines, terminating IN
acute points, and spread out on every side OF
the stem. The flower has no empalement; is
erect and spreads open at the brim; 1t has nine
erect stamina crowned by narrow SUBMITS,
longer than the petals, and three stigmas sup
ported by single style, divided at the summit
into six parts, two of which support each stig-
ma. After the flower is passed, the germen
becomes an oblong three cornered seed vessel,
having three cells, which are filed with Hat
seeds
This plant differs from the Aloe which be-
longs to the first order Of the sixth class OF Lin
nsus, alexandria Monogynia) in several res
poets, besides the sexual differences abovemeh-
toned. The stamina are extended beyond the
corolla, and the corolla rests upon the germen.
There is also another difference which may be
observed before it flowers. The central leaves
fold closely over each other, depressing the
flower stem which is formed in the centre, so
that il cannot flower until all the leaves are ex-
banded, and the stem is at liberty to advance;
and when the foweris borne, and the seed-ves-
sci formed. the plant dies.
In the structure of the leaves, stem, the info
rescence, and all other particulars, save in the
sexual organs, it corresponds with the genus
.4gave, which Gas well as the Aloe) belongs TO
the first order of the sixth class. The points of
difference in the flower are the following: The
Agaye, as lis classification implies, has six sta
nina and one stigma, wherea the plant under
consideration, has nine stamina, and three stig-
mas.
The specimen from which the above obser-
yations were made, is obviously sickly; and the
apex Of the stem with the first formed cluster Of
buds, was accidentally broken off before the
period Of inAorescence. If the variations from
the Agaye may not have been produced by these
circumstances, it will be necessary to separate
it from its Hexandrian relations, and TO consi-
der il as new genus in the third order of the
ninth class, (Enneandria Trigynia.) Injured as
IL has been, however, it is deemed well worthy
Of examination; more particularly as the profits
arising from its exhibition, are appropriated to
a charitable purpose, and this plant will assn
redIy never blossom again in the present centu-
ry, or any other.
The Sehoharie Snake Sfory-When we publish
ed this marvellous story, eight or ten Gays ago,
we verify believed that it was intended as
burlesque of the Montreal story. The editor
sOt tue OCnonarle hepuOIlCau, uo"e'SIf ayers
that it was "any thing but hoax. The young
men who saw the snake are ready at any time,
10 confirm their statements by affidavit" The
editor also says, that che has conversed with
an inteligen. and respectable farmer, from the
town OF Jefferson, who informed him that he
visited the cave the day after this monster was
seen. and could trace very distinctly, his track,
for several rods, to and from the opening in
the ledge. AT one place, where he had pas
sed over knoll, and left very distinct tract,
the width was precisely Is inches, He said
that it was impossible that the track could
have been made by any thing but a snake similar
to the one said to have been seen there We are
not more prone than our neighbors (adds the
editor) to give credit TO marvellous stories,
neither should we have published the account
OF this monster, which we did on the I'd inst.
had we not received it from SO many unques-
tionably correct sources of information, as to
leave no doubt on our minds.
We recollect, in the days OF yore, that there
was an Indian tradition in Albany, that mon
strous serpent, who was the terror OF man and
beast, lived on the pine plains west OF the Hud-
son, and that ne had a den somewhere back OF
Albany, either towards Schenectady or Scho-