Introduction
Agave americana
This invasive plant, introduced here many years ago, originated in Mexico, where it is called maguey. It grows in regions with temperate climates in rocky places with lots of sun.
This plant had many purposes. Not very fine threads and fabrics used to be made from its leaf fibres. In Andalusia, ladders were made from the dry flowering stalks.
Its life cycle is usually around 25 years. It flowers just once in its life and dies after flowering. The flowers appear in the summer on a long woody stalk which can reach up to 10 m in height.
The alcoholic drink mescal is made by distilling the fermented extract of its leaves.
Images not available