Agave sisalana Perrine

NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN
732
02641
The Flora and Ethnobotany of Cat Island, Bahamas
Willard Sherman Turrell Herbarium (MU)
Species
Family
Common Name
Description
Location/Habitat
Latitude
Uses/Comments
Collector(s)
Collection No
Agave sisalana
Agavaceae
Sisal
Au: Perfine-	\ yn.
Herb with a large basal rosette of leaves that are spine tipped.
Inflorescense about 3-4 meters tall. Flowers are white.
Found roadside along the Deep South Turn Around, Disturbed roadside
scrub / low dry evergreen forest that is seasonally flooded by fresh water.
24°09’ 30” N	Longitude 75°24’ 62” W
The leaves are soaked in water and stripped of the mucilagenous pulp to
obtain the fibers. Fibers are then woven into plait for hats and other
handicrafts. Fibers also used for rope. Plant was once cultivated
extensively in Loyalist era.
Laurel R. Richey
©0-796 Duplicates 3 Date June 8,2000
Plants Dried Using a Kerosene Heater
Vouchers for Laurel Richey's PhD Dissertation
02641732