Scientific name:
Agave sisalana
Common name:
Sisal
Range:
South Florida (Keys)
Form:
Large rosette above a short trunk; forms offsets from the base or root system
Habitat:
Sandy soils
Flowers:
Greenish yellow, in branched clusters along the upper half of the 18 foot stem
Like agave americana, agave sisalana is often grown as an ornamental plant, as well as being cultivated for its tough leaf fibers, used in ropemaking. The species grows wild in the US only in the Florida Keys; its origin is thought to be Chiapas in south Mexico, possibly a hybrid. The sword-like green leaves are long (35 to 34 inches), straight-edged, usually lacking any edge teeth, but tipped by a dark brown spine.
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