Sisal hemp
Agave sisalana, Fam. Agavaceae
Large freely suckering, short-stemmed perennial succulents with hard fibrous roots, leafy parts to 2m tall x 3m wide.
| Weed Category: |
Other invasive plants Invasive plants that are not prohibited or restricted invasive plants, but are known to spread readily and cause negative impacts, within the region.
|
| Weed: | Yes |
| Form or habit: | Succulent or cactus |
| Family: | Agavaceae |
| Leaf: | Simple Basal Long-lived in rosettes, sword-shaped up to 1300 x 120mm, with a hard dark brown terminal spine to 35mm long. Green leaves, usually with toothless margins when mature and with minute teeth when young. |
| Flower conspicuous: | Conspicuous |
| Flower colour: |
Yellow, Green |
| Flower description: | Yellow green 'petals' are all equal-sized and floral filaments are 50-65mm long, with funnel to urn-shaped basal tube to 18mm long, borne in sprays on an erect central mast-like stem to 6m tall. |
| Fruit conspicuous: | Inconspicuous |
| Fruit colour: | |
| Fruit: | Dry |
| Fruit description: | Not seen in this species of Agave. |
| Habitat: | |
| Distribution | |
| Food source for: | |
| Toxicity: | No toxicity known |
| Origin: | America, chiefly Mexico |
| Notes: | Spreads by: suckers, vegetative reproduction (numerous small bulbs formed in the axils of small bracts around spent flowers), dumped garden waste, water movement and animals. Invades/threats: bushland and coastal dunes forming dense thickets. Recorded in coastal areas in this district. Historically planted on many islands. Also grown around the world for fibre. |
| Information sources: | Mackay Regional Pest Management Group (2018) Weeds of the Mackay Whitsunday Region Second Edition. |
