The genus Agave is treated here in a wide sense to include taxa previously treated as belonging to the genera Manfreda, Prochnyanthes, Polianthes and Pseudobravoa. Not all botanists are happy with this treatment, with some feeling that these genera should remain distinct, at least until further studies have been carried out. In addition, given the high species diversity found in Agave, some feel that an alternative approach could be the recognition of several smaller genera within the current circumscription of Agave[
Agave rigida elongata Baker
Agave sullivanii Trel.
Common Name: Henequen
Cultivated plant (centre) at Lanzarote
Photograph by: Michiel1972
Agave fourcroydes is an evergreen, succulent, perennial plant producing a rosette of leaves atop a stem that can be 100 - 170cm tall and 25cm wide. Individual leaves on mature plants can be 100 - 180cm or more long and 8 - 12cm wide. Towards the end of its lifespan the plant produces a 5 - 7 metre tall flowering stem with yellow flowers. Individual rosettes die after flowering, but the plant produces several offsets that continue growing[
An ancient fibre crop plant of the Maya Indians, the plant is still cultivated for its useful fibre, mainly in Mexico since plantations are less successful in El Salvador, Venezuela, Cuba, Jamaica, Tanzania, Mozambique and in the islands of Polynesia[
]. The plant is also used to make the distilled drink mezcal, which is marketed under the registered trademark 'Sisal'[
Many Agave species have strong, sharp spines on the leaves and leaf tips.
In theory at least, the flowers, nectar, immature flowering stem and the centre of the rosette of all Agave species is edible and, with proper preparation, can provide a sweet, tasty foodstuff. Some species, however, contain relatively high levels of saponins (which makes them taste bitter) and some other compounds which can cause bellyache, and so these would only be eaten in times of desperation. In addition, many people may find these foods to be strongly laxative the first few times they eat them[
C. America - Guatemala to southern Mexico.
Only found in cultivation[
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A plant of the drier tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 15 - 30°c, but can tolerate 10 - 40°c[
]. It can be damaged by temperatures of -5°c or lower[
]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 900 - 1,250mm, but tolerates 700 - 2,500mm[
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. Prefers a pH in the range 6.5 - 7.5, tolerating 6 - 8[
It require 4 - 6 years to first harvest, and the leaves can subsequently be harvested twice a year[
Agave species are monocarpic, individual plants living for a number of years without flowering then sending up an often very large flowering stem and then dying after flowering and setting seed. The plants of most species, however, normally produce a number of new plants from suckers during their lifespan and these new plants will continue the life-cycle. Over time, some plants can form extensive clonal colonies by this means[
Individual plants take about 7 - 15 years in their native habitat, considerably longer in colder climates, before flowering[
In Mexico the plant has a life cycle of 15 - 30 years[
This species is a sterile hybrid taxon[
]. Propagation is made by transplanting the rhizomatous offsets produced during the early years of growth. They are preferred over the bulbils of the inflorescence because they grow more vigorously and require fewer years to reach the commercial production stage[
The plant is used to make 'mezcal'. Mezcal is a distilled alcoholic beverage that potentially can be made from almost any species of Agave, though only around fifty are used regularly and seven species are especially favoured. Mature plants are harvested from the wild, their leaves and roots are removed and the remaining 'hearts' are baked (often in an earth oven), then mashed and the resulting liquid allowed to ferment for a few days before being distilled to produce mezcal.
The plant is used for medicinal purposes[
The plants are cultivated as hedges and living fences in Cuba[
A fibre is obtained from the leaves[
]. Coarser than the fibres from sisal (Agave sisalana), they are used for the production of ropes, nets, floor-covering and harvest binding strings[
The roots contain saponins and can be used as a soap substitute[
Seed - this species rarely produces seed. Where it is produced, surface sow in a container in a light position. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15 - 20°c[
]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of well-drained soil when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position until they are at least 10cm tall before planting out.
Offsets and suckers can be potted up at any time they are available.
Bulbils, where produced, are an easy method of propagation. Simply pot them up and plant out at the beginning of a growing season when they are 10cm or more tall.
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