2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Agave sisal (lat. Agave sisalana), or Sisal - one of the plant species of the genus Agave (lat. Agave) of the family Asparagus (lat. Asparagaceae). The plant is widely renowned for its tough leaves, from which people make the coarse fiber known worldwide as sisal.
What's in your name
You can read about the semantic meaning of the name of the genus "Agave" in the article "Tequila Agave, or Blue Agave".
As for the species epithet "sisalana", the plant owes it to the coarse fiber, which is made from the leaves of this species of Agave and is called the word "sisal". At a time when the Spanish conquerors of America brought all kinds of wonders to Europe, among them were very strong ropes made from the fiber of the leaves of a tropical plant, the name of which the sailors did not bother to find out. Therefore, the ropes and ropes were given the name of the port of Sisal, located in Mexico, from where they brought these very durable and important things for sailors. And already from the name of the ropes, the word passed into the name of the plant itself, which in a simple way is called with one word "Sisal", and scientifically "Agave sisalana" (Agave sisalana).
Description
Sisal agave is a rosette of xiphoid leaves, the length of which varies from one and a half to two meters, like that of blue agave. But sharp thorns located along the edge of the leaves are characteristic only of young leaves, and as they grow, they are lost by the plant.
For seven to ten years of life, one sisal agave gives life to two or two and a half hundred leaves, suitable for making fibers. Each sheet contains on average about one thousand fibers. Fresh leaves of the plant are crushed and crumpled with a special machine, separating the fiber from other components of the leaf. Next, the fiber is washed with water, hung in the sun to dry, and then brushed. Yellowish, shiny plant fibers are very strong, and woven into ropes are many times stronger, they are not afraid of moisture, and therefore are indispensable for sea ships. Brazil is currently the leader in the production of sisal. True, today synthetic fibers are becoming a competitor for sisal.
Agave sisal blooms only once in a lifetime. Its two-meter juicy peduncle looks like a strong tree trunk, on which corymbose inflorescences are located as if on branches. The inflorescences are formed by numerous yellow-green flowers, in which the stamens rise above the flower petals, giving the inflorescences a shaggy washcloth appearance. After fruiting, the plant dies, like Blue Agave and many other plants of our amazingly beautiful planet, on which something living dies every second in order to revive again from seeds, born babies or growth buds on underground parts of plants.
Using Sisal fibers
For centuries, the main source of plant fiber in Europe has been a plant called "Hemp". Therefore, in honor of Hemp, sisal is sometimes called "sisal hemp".
Sisal fiber is traditionally used for weaving ropes, twines and strong ropes. In addition, fiber is used to make paper, rough fabrics, hats, shopping bags, washcloths, brushes; weaving carpets; make targets, for example, for a game with the name "Darts", as well as shoes.
The long peduncle contains vitamin juice, which people extract for their own needs, including for obtaining citric acid. Flower nectar is enjoyed by bees, who process nectar into useful honey.
Savvy Chinese, in order to reduce the numerical growth of their population, prepare medicines from Agave sisalous for contraceptive purposes. Such are the versatile abilities of an amazing creature of nature.
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Agave
Agave - This is a genus of plants that belong to the subfamily Agave, in this genus there are more than three hundred different species. In the wild, these plants grow mainly in Central America, especially in Mexico. After the discovery of the New World, agaves became known in Europe.
Growing Agave Yourself
Agave is a perennial herb with rather short stems and thick, weighty leaves, which are organized into one rosette. The shape of the rosette and leaves changes and grows periodically. The leaves of this plant are usually pointed upwards. It happens that pointed thorns grow along the edges of the leaves. The size of the outlet can be varied. It can have a diameter of about five centimeters, or maybe no more than four centimeters
Queen Victoria Agave
Queen Victoria Agave is a leafy succulent, it is noteworthy that its juice can even irritate the skin, so this plant can be called somewhat poisonous. The plant is used to create beautiful rockeries and succulent gardens. In addition, surprisingly attractive mini-compositions are created from this plant.
American Agave
American agave (Agave americana) is a perennial herb that should be classified in the agave family. The leaves of this plant are quite large, they will be linear-lanceolate in shape, they taper towards the top, and then collect in a basal rosette, while there can be up to thirty leaves in the rosette.
Agave Tequila, Or Blue Agave
Agave tequilana (Latin Agave tequilana), or blue Agave (Spanish Agave azul) - a drought-resistant plant of the genus Agave (lat. Agave) of the Asparagus family (lat. Asparagaceae). Lovers of strong alcoholic drinks plant "Blue Agave"
