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Genus: Agave
Life
> eukaryotes >
Archaeoplastida >
Chloroplastida
>
Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants)
> Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants)
> Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering
plants)
> Monocotyledons > Order: Asparagales
> Family: Agavaceae
About 275 species, native to
the New World. Four species have become naturalised in southern Africa and
there are a further eight species that are cultivated in this region. The genus
includes Sisal Agave sisalana, which is widely cultivated for production
of fibre. Pulque is an alcoholic drink derived from fermented sap of Agave
plants. Mescal and tequila are distilled from the fermented sap.
Species naturalised in southern Africa
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Agave americana (Century plant, Maguey,
American aloe) Indigenous to Mexico. Called
Century plant because of the mistaken belief that it only starts flowering
after 100 years. In fact it starts flowering after 10-20 years. Grown
extensively in the karoo, South Africa where it is harvested for the
productions of agava, which is an alcoholic drink produced in a
similar manner to tequila. |
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Agave decipiens
Indigenous to the USA. |
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Agave sisalana (Sisal)
Indigenous to Mexico. Cultivated for the production of
fibre. |
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Agave vivipara Indigenous to Mexico. |
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Other species, cultivated
in southern Africa
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Agave angustifolia |
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Agave attenuata
Indigenous to Mexico. |
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Agave echinoides
Indigenous to Mexico. |
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Agave lecheguilla (Lecheguilla, Tula ixtle)
Indigenous to Mexico and Texas. Fibre derived from this
plant is used for making brushes. |
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Agave lespinassei
Indigenous to Mexico. |
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Agave salmiana Indigenous to Mexico. |
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Agave vera-cruz
Indigenous to Mexico. Grown as a commercial source of
fructose. |
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Agave wercklei Indigenous to Costa Rica. |
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Other signficant species
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Agave tequilana (Tequila plant, Blue agave)
Indigenous to Mexico. The stems of the Tequila plant
(which look like spiny, succulent leaves) are harvested just prior to the
emergence of the flowering stalk, which is when the sugar levels of the
plant sap are at their highest. Tequila is made from the sap that is
extracted and can only be called tequila if it originates from Tequila
plants from the Guadalajara region of SW Mexico. An agave worm (termed
maguey worm or gusano) is added to each bottle to show that the
alcohol levels are high enough for the worm not to rot. The Tequila plant is
not cultivated in southern Africa but is included here because people in
southern Africa do drink tequila. |
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