Plant
Sisal
Agave sisalanaAlso known as Sisal Hemp, Mescal
Sisal forms a dense rosette of sword-shaped, fibrous leaves that can persist for up to a decade before a dramatic reproductive climax. Once mature, each plant bolts an immense flowering stalk up to six meters high, relying on bats and large moths for pollination before dying back. Instead of abundant seeds, the dying inflorescence produces hundreds of tiny vegetative bulbils that drop to the ground and clone the parent.
SucculentFiber PlantDrought Tolerant
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAutotrophic (photosynthetic via CAM pathways)
Predators
- Sisal weevil (Scyphophorus acupunctatus)
ThreatsSisal weevil infestations, fungal rot, habitat clearance in native range
HabitatsArid shrublands, coastal scrub, agricultural plantations, disturbed roadsides
Life span7–10 years (monocarpic)
Classification
- OrderAsparagales
- FamilyAsparagaceae
- GenusAgave
- SpeciesAgave sisalana
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskHigh
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is high
- Leaf sap contains oxalate crystals that irritate skin; terminal leaf spines can cause painful punctures.
- Why it is dangerous
- Sap contains sharp calcium oxalate raphide crystals and saponins that induce severe contact dermatitis, itching, and swelling upon skin contact.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for stiff, dark green, lanceolate leaves up to two meters long ending in dark, rigid terminal spikes.
- What to do
- Avoid brushing against spine-tipped leaves; wash skin thoroughly with soap and water if sap contacts skin.
Responsible observation
- Spine Awareness: Keep a safe distance from mature rosettes, as each leaf terminates in a needle-sharp spine.
- Handling Precautions: Wear thick gloves and eye protection if cutting foliage to prevent skin rash from sap.
Predator (c) psweet, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by psweet · cc-by-sa
Pollinator (c) Juan Cruzado Cortés, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Juan Cruzado Cortés · cc-by-sa
Close Relative "Closeup of Century Plant (Agave)" by Coconino NF Photography is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Stan Shebs, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) Tereso Hernández Morales, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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