Interim profile, incomplete informationTaxonomic name: Agave sisalana Perrine Synonyms: Agave rigida var. sisalana (Perrine) Engelm. Common names: agave, century plant, dali (Fiji), garingboom (Afrikaans), hemp-plant, Maguey de Sisal (Spanish), malina (Hawaii), mescal, natali (Fiji), ndali (Fiji), sisal, sisal agave, sisal hemp, te rob' (Kiribati), te robu (Kiribati) Organism type: succulent Agave sisalana is a member of the Agavaceae family and is native to Mexico. It is known primarily for its fibre production, and is grown commercially worldwide for the fibre industry. It is a large and fast-propagating plant, which can cause problems in areas where it is invasive as it can exclude and outcompete native plant species. A. sisalana is invasive in Australia, Madagascar, South Africa, the United States and on multiple islands in the Pacific. Occurs in: coastland, desert, planted forests, range/grasslands, scrub/shrublands Uses Agave sisalana is used a source of fiber and it is used as an ornamental plant. Parts of the plant are used as medicine. Geographical range Native range: Mexico Known introduced range: Africa (Naturalised in Madagascar); United States (Hawaii and Florida); West Indies (cultivated in Bahamas, Bermuda); Australia (USDA-ARS, 2010); south-east Spain (Badano & Pugnaire, 2004); Bermuda, Saint Helena (Varnham 2006), Ascension Island (Duffey 1964)
Compiled by: IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) with support from the Overseas Territories Environmental Programme (OTEP) project XOT603, a joint project with the Cayman Islands Government - Department of Environment
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Last Modified: Tuesday, 8 June 2010
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