Agave Americana

One of the plants that I believe is among the most beautiful is Agave americana, also known as century plant, maguey, or American aloe. It is a species of plant that is native to Mexico, Arizona, and Texas. In addition, it has become naturalized in the West Indies, parts of South America, the Mediterranean Basin,  and parts of Africa, India, China, Korea, Thailand, New Zealand, and Australia. The American aloe denomination is actually a misnomer since the plant is not related to the genus Aloe.

Agave americana usually lives between 10 and 30 years. Towards the end of its life, the plant grows up a tall, branched stalk, which may reach a total height up to 25-30 feet (8-9 meters). The upper part of the stalk contains yellow blossoms.

The plant dies after flowering, but it produces shoots from the base, which continue its growth.

If the flower stem is cut without flowering, a sweet liquid called aguamiel (Spanish for "honey water") gathers in the heart of the plant. This may be fermented to produce the drink called pulque. The leaves also yield fibers, which are suitable for making rope, matting, coarse cloth and are used for embroidery of leather in a technique known as piteado.

In the tequila-producing regions of Mexico, agaves are called mezcales. The high-alcohol product of agave distillation is called mezcal; Agave americana is one of several agaves used for distillation. There is a mezcal called tequila, which is produced from Agave tequilana.