Information about plants & gardens for Brisbane & Qld |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Agaveplus, Furcraea and Sansevieria species and cultivarsFamily: Asparagaceae (Formerly in Agavaceae)The Agaves and Sansevieria have really been rediscovered in recent years as landscapers search for easy-care plants with strong sculptural lines for use in gardens or as container specimens. In the ground, little or no supplemental watering will be required. Like many other drought-tolerant plants, however, this group has potential to become environmental weeds in some areas, so take care. If in doubt, consult appropriate local authorities. Agaves have potential to contribute economically to many semi-arid parts of the world. Research (Agave fuels global excitement as a bioenergy crop) indicates certain agaves could actually be superior to crops such as corn and soybean for biofuel production, without the associated diversion of land from high-value food prodiction. Agave biofuel could also be produced as a byproduct of tequila manufacture. News¡Agave!
The world's most famous agave product is, of course, tequila. The name is regulated, however. Officially, spirits labelled tequila should only be made in approved districts in Mexico using the 'Weber Azul' variety of Agave tequilana, also known as the blue agave. However, the carbohydrate-rich plant can be fermented anywhere it can be grown and the ethanol produced has many uses beyond the obvious one. The blue agave is currently being trialled on the Atherton Tablelands in Far North Queensland. A report on the pilot farm and ethanol plant confirm that this is a crop with great potential for semi-arid Australia. Agave has significant advantages over sugarcane and corn as a source of biofuel. It doesn't compete with food production and is far more water efficient. The study also indicated lower risks to aquatic ecosystems compared to sugarcane. Associate Professor Daniel Tan (pictured left with some of the plants growing in Ayr, Qld) says that although falling oil prices do affect the economic viability of biofuel operations right now, the new demand for ethanol-based healthcare products - notably hand sanitisers - could change that. Source: 'Tequila' powered biofuels more efficient than corn or sugar, University of Sydney (April, 2020) Older news at bottom of page.Agave attenuataMore online information about Agave attenuata
Spineless Agave (Agave attenuata) At the "grow me instead" website, Australia
Agave attenuata Spineless Century Plant. University of Florida USA (PDF)
Spineless Agave (Agave attenuata) Online Manual of Subtropical Landscaping Plants, Palm Beach Community College, Florida
Swan's Neck Agave Agave attenuata. Flowers of India
Agave desmettiana in the LandscapeMore online information about Agave desmettiana
Smooth Agave Agave desmettiana. Moody Demonstration Garden, Arizonia
Agave desmettiana Virtual Library of Phoenix Landscape Plants
Agave desmettiana 'Variegata' an elegant ornamental succulent John&Jacq~s Garden, Malaysia
Agave desmettiana with flowers to signal its approaching death! John&Jacq~s Garden, Malaysia
Agave geminifloraMore online information about Agave geminiflora
Twin-Flowered Agave (Agave geminiflora) Online Manual of Subtropical Landscaping Plants, Palm Beach Community College, Florida
Twin Flowered Agave Agave geminiflora. Moody Demonstration Garden, Arizonia
Agave americanaAgave americana L. New South Wales Flora Online
Agave americana Virtual Library of Phoenix Landscape Plants
Agave americana Century Plant. University of Florida USA (PDF)
Agave americana Century plant. Arid Plant List, University of Arizona
Century Plant Agave americana Ornamentals for the Texas Gulf Coast (Texas A&M University)
American Agave, Century-Plant (Agave americana) Online Manual of Subtropical Landscaping Plants, Palm Beach Community College, Florida
Agave americana 'Marginata' Variegated Century Plant. University of Florida USA (PDF)
Century plant Agave Americana Moody Demonstration Garden, Arizonia
Agave americana "mediopicta" 'alba' Moody Demonstration Garden, Arizonia
Agave tequilianaBlue Agave Agave tequiliana. Flowers of India
Agave tequilana "Botany Photo of the Day", University of British Columbia Botanical Garden & Centre for Plant Research
Agave wendtii Chazaro International Succulent Plant Introductions of the Huntington Botanical Gardens
Agave weberi Weber's agave. Arid Plant List, University of Arizona
Other online information about Agave speciesAgave and Yucca: Tough Plants for Tough Times University of Florida
Agaves and their Relatives Introductory article. Arizona Cooperative Extension, Yavapai County
Agavaceae University of Hawaii
Add Dramatic Landscape Effect with Agaves Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information, University of Arizona
Agaves for Small Spaces Arid-Southwestern Gardening Information, University of Arizona
Warm Climate Production Guidelines for Agave University of Florida
Agave (Agave spp.) Landscape Plant Propagation Information, University of Florida
Verde Valley Agaves Backyard Gardener column, March 24, 1999. Arizona Cooperative Extension, University of Arizona
Furcraea foetidaThis is an agave-like plant with quite slender leaves. You may have seen it recently in Balinese-style or other modern tropical gardens, particularly in its variegated form (F. foetida 'Mediopicta'). Actually, it was at one time classified as an agave (A. foetida or A. gigantea) and is still in the same family (Agavaceae). You may also see it listed as Furcraea gigantea. The common name of Mauritius Hemp alludes to its use as a fibre crop. More online information about Furcraea foetida
False-Agave, Mauritius-Hemp (Furcraea foetida) Online Manual of Subtropical Landscaping Plants, Palm Beach Community College, Florida
Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. New South Wales Flora Online
Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. factsheet from United States Dept Agriculture Forest Service, USA (PDF)
Furcraea foetida University of Hawai`i at Manoa
Furcraea foetida var. mediopicta "Botany Photo of the Day", University of British Columbia Botanical Garden & Centre for Plant Research
Genus Furcraea PlantNET, Royal Botanic Gardens & Domain Trust, Sydney
Furcraea foetida Pacific Island Ecosystems at Risk (PIER)
Furcraea, Agavaceae, Photo Gallery of Cacti and Other Succulents by Friedrich A. Lohmueller (be sure to check out the rest of the gallery if you're interested in these types of plants)
November 2005 Plant Highlight: Furcraea selloa The Ruth Bancroft Garden, California
Virtual Tour of the AOS Garden \ Formal Lawn American Orchid Society, Florida. Includes notes on Furcraea foetida `Mediopicta' (Variegated False Agave)
Furcraeas What happens when they flower? Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture
Furcraea gigantea var. willemettiana Ecocrop database, FAOOlder NewsDry TequilaLike many other plants adapted to arid habitats, the tequila agave uses Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) to be able to photosynthesise while avoid opening its stomates during the day. Genetic analysis of tequila has indicated that CAM plants and regular plants have the same genes regulating these processes, it's the timing with which these genes are switched on and off. Scientists speculate that if the triggers can be identified, it may be possible to induce this water-saving mechanism in mainstream crop plants. Source: How tequila could be key in our battle against climate change (December 2016) Saline soils have crop potential with AgaveAgave species could extend farming into hot, arid areas, producing a variety of edible and non-edible commercial products, but salinity could be a problem. When four types of Agave were tested, however, two species (Agave parryi and Agave weberi) performed well enough to demonstrate potential for cropping in saline soils. Source: Impacts of salinity determined for Agave (March 2016) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|