Furcraea foetida

Furcraea foetida (= Agave foetida, Furcraea gigantea), commonly known as Mauritius Hemp, Green Aloe, is a perennial.

Contents 1 Naming 2 Taxonomy 3 Characteristics 3.1 Growth 3.2 Wood and Bark 3.3 Leaves 3.4 Flowers and Fruit 3.5 Root System 4 Distribution 5 Cultivation 6 Uses 7 Maintenance 8 Varities and Cultivars 9 Poisonousness 10 Pests and Diseases 11 Man and Furcraea foetida 11.1 History 11.2 Furcraea foetida in art 11.3 Symbolism 11.4 Superstition 12 See also 13 References 13.1 Literature 13.2 Footnotes 14 Non-commercial Links

[edit] Naming

Furcraea foetida was already described and the name validly published by Carl Linnaeus. It was not until 1812, however, that Adrian Hardy Haworth reclassified it into todays valid botanical systematics.

[edit] Taxonomy

The Mauritius hemp is a species in the genus Furcraea which contains 23 species and belongs to the family of the Agavaceae (Century-plant Family).

[edit] Characteristics

[edit] Growth

The perennials grow to a height of approximately 2,5 meters.

[edit] Wood and Bark

[edit] Leaves

Furcraea foetida is an evergreen plant with simple leaves. The leaves are arranged in rosettes. They are lanceolate with entire margins.

[edit] Flowers and Fruit

The flowers are bell-shaped and white. The plants bloom from June to August. The flowers are arranged in panicles.

The fruits are loculicidal capsules.

[edit] Root System

[edit] Distribution

Furcraea foetida is native to Mexico, Central America and South America.

[edit] Cultivation

The Mauritius hemp prefers a sunny site and can withstand temperatures down to -6,6º C. It grows best in sandy-gritty soil that is dry.

[edit] Uses

[edit] Maintenance

[edit] Varities and Cultivars

[edit] Poisonousness

 Please read the health issues note! 

[edit] Pests and Diseases

[edit] Man and Furcraea foetida

[edit] History

[edit] Furcraea foetida in art

[edit] Symbolism

[edit] Superstition

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] Literature

• Walter Erhardt, Erich Götz, Nils Bödeker, Siegmund Seybold: Der große Zander. Eugen Ulmer KG, Stuttgart 2008, ISBN 978-3-8001-5406-7. (Ger.)
• Christoper Brickell (Editor-in-chief): RHS A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants. Third edition. Dorling Kindersley, London 2003, ISBN 0-7513-3738-2.
• efloras.org

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] Non-commercial Links

More pictures of Furcraea foetida in the

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• United States Department of Agriculturees:Furcraea foetidafr:Furcraea foetida