Spermatophyta: Monocotyledonae

Agavaceae - Sisal family

Literature

Bailey, L.H. (1949) Manual of Cultivated Plants Revised edition. Macmillan, New York.

Lock, J.M. (2008) Agavaceae FZ 13(1)

Walters, S.M. et al. (eds) (1986) The European Garden Flora. Vol. I. Pteridophyta, Gymnospermae, Angiospermae-Monocotyledons (Part I). Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

Description of the family

Monocarpic or perennial plants. Stems short or 0, sometimes trunk-like. Leaves large, borne in rosettes, often succulent, usually hard, leathery and spine-tipped. Inflorescence a large spike or panicle. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic; perianth segments 6, united for most of their length. Stamens 6. Ovary inferior, 3-locular. Fruit a capsule. Seeds numerous, flattened, black.

A number of species of this family are naturalised in Zimbabwe. However, the name of these plants is not known.

Worldwide: 13 genera and 210 species, tropical and warm zones, especially arid America.

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Links to genera: (0)

Other sources of information about Agavaceae:

GRIN (Germplasm Resources Information Network) taxonomy for plants report for Agavaceae
Google: Web - Images - Scholar


Copyright: Mark Hyde and Bart Wursten, 2007-10

Hyde, M.A. & Wursten, B. (2010). Flora of Mozambique: Family page: Agavaceae.
http://www.mozambiqueflora.com/speciesdata/family.php?family_id=2, retrieved 6 September 2010

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