Dilip Walse Patil

Scientific Name : Agave americana (L.)

Category : Angiosperms

Status : Alive

Habit : A large, perennial herb. Leaves : Radical in a massive rosette, long, broad, thick, heavy, prickly at the margins, sharp - pointed. Flowers : Flowers only once during life, at any time after many years, 3 - 6m tall scape. With large scape, with large bracts, yellowish - green, borne erect on many horizontal branches. Some flowers are modified into flower - bulbils. Perianth funnel - like with short tube, segments 6. stamens 6, filaments exserted, anthers versatile. ovary inferior 3 - celled, ovules many, stigma 3 - lobed. Fruits : Diplotezia oblong. Flowering and Fruiting time : January - June Significance : Fibres are obtained from the leaves. Leaves are used as a fodder during scarcity.