Posted by Paul S again on February 17, 2007, 1:09 am, in reply to "Re: Mexico January 2007 Travelogue" As an example, one key feature of the revision was Dasylirion quadrangulatum/longissimum/treleasei. Dasylirion longissimum was renamed quadrangulatum some while back and covered all the quadranulate-leaved dasylirions you were likely to encounter. But a similar but physically different (residual marginal teeth at the 'spoon', plus other things) and geographically seperated (more southern) plant came to light as a result of his research which, in his first paper, he called Dasylirion treleasei. He then almost immediately (well, after his paper was published) revised the name, re-instating the old name of Dasylirion longissimum, so we now have a pretty confusing state of affairs - not that many people are aware of the different species or naming confusion. You see a plant labelled Dasylirion longissimum and it is most likely quadrangulatum. But it could be the 'real' longissimum - which is a slightly inferior, scruffier and probably more tender plant. And, to make things even worse, the residual teeth wouldn't be a definitive test, either. Where Dasy. quad and miquihunanensis. grow together they intergrade a bit, so you can have a hybrid that favours quad in looks yet has little marginal teeth - resembling longissimum. I guess you really need to know which state you are standing in to be sure. Anyway, that was an entirely ubnsolicited waffle. As for Yucca linearifolia, well the literature says it is from northern Nuevo Leon, up to Monterrey, so maybe it goes a little further, too? I haven't seen rostrata in the wild, so couldn't compare the looks, but cultivated specimens are pretty similar. The leaf of linearifolia is a good deal thinner and, if memory serves, doesn't have the pale margin (though that might be wrong). With a full crown the rostrat I have seen almost seem to spiral - this isnt noticeable with linearifolia. I'll try to remember to go outside and have a good look at both today and see if there are any particular differences.
David - not a book, as such, but there is a monograph published in the late 80s by a guy called David Bogler. I sent off for a copy from Texas University Library, which actually wasn't too expensive considering it was all photocopied and posted across the Atlantic. He had a good old rummage arouund, changed a few names, came up with some new ones etc. He revised his work almost immediately afterwards, though I haven't seen a copy of the revision.
Message Thread | Skip to this response ↓
« Back to index