Asparagaceae FAMILY

Furcraea quicheensis

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

None known

Botanical Description

Furcraea quicheensis is an evergreen, perennial plant with a rosette of thin, non-fleshy leaves up tp 120cm long and 6 - 10cm wide. The plant is stemless when young, but with age it gradually develops a thick, naked trunk up to 1.5 metres long. This trunk sometimes has a few branches, each with a rosette of leaves at their apex. The leaves are a source of fibre, used as a tying material. They are sometimes sold in local markets for this purpose[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ].. The plant is often grown as part of a live fence and is also used to stabilize sandy soils. A very ornamental plant, often cultivated for this purpose and for its leaves, which are used as decorations[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeMesoamerica - Honduras, Guatemala to southern Mexico (Chiapas)

HabitatOpen mountain slopes, often on exposed white sand mountain sides, sometimes in oak forest, most often, perhaps, in fencerows, and much planted in some regions for hedges; chiefly at elevations from 2,400 - 3,300 metres[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ].