Mauritius Hemp
Furcraea foetida

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

Furcraea foetida is an evergreen Perennial growing to 2 m (6ft) by 2 m (6ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10. The flowers are pollinated by Birds, Bees. It is noted for attracting wildlife. Suitable for: light (sandy) and medium (loamy) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

Height (m): 2

Where it is found

Tropical highlands

Northern S. America - Colombia, Venezuela and the Guyanas, north to Costa Rica and the Caribbean

Conservation Status: This taxon has not yet been assessed

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, Central America*, East Africa, Fiji, French Guiana, Guianas, Guyana, Hawaii, Indonesia, Madagascar, Malaysia, Marquesas, Mauritius, Myanmar, Pacific, SE Asia, Singapore, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Suriname, USA,

How it is used

Food

Rating: 0

Medicine

Rating: 2

The root has been used as blood purifying remedy. An infusion with sweet oil is drunk as a treatment for syphilis. The root is mixed with gin and used as a treatment for back pain. The leaves are febrifuge. They are used in a preparation with molasses or honey to treat children's obstinate colds.

Other

Rating: 3

Agroforestry Uses: Used as a hedge plant in desert gardens. Other Uses: A strong, good quality fibre is obtained from the leaves. It is thinner and softer than sisal. The fibre is usable for ropes and sacks. The long, soft fibre is used alone or with other fibres in twine, sacks, hammocks, and other products. It breaks down in salt water but withstands fresh water. The macerated young leaves are used as a hair shampoo and a soap.

Agroforestry Services: Living fence: Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.

Industrial Crop: Fiber: Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Agroforestry Services: Living fence: Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.

Industrial Crop: Fiber: Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!

Management: Standard: Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.

Regional Crop: These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

Carbon Farming: Plants that can be a critical part of the solution to climate problems. The Carbon Farming Solution - Eric Toensmeier.

How it is grown

A plant of the tropics. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 23 - 30?c, but can tolerate 16 - 34?c. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 1,000 - 2,100mm, but tolerates 700 - 2,500mm. Requires a well-drained, medium to light soil and a sunny position. Prefers a pH in the range 6 - 7, tolerating 5.5 - 8. Very drought tolerant, the plant is able to withstand a dry season of 8 months. The plant has escaped from cultivation in some areas - in New Caledonia it has become a noxious weed. The plants inflorescences produce bulblets in large quantities; these disperse naturally and form dense impenetrable stands which exclude native vegetation. The plant takes 3 - 4 years before its first harvest, and thereafter it can be harvested every 2 - 3 years. It has a total life span of 7 - 10 years. Yields of between 60 - 90 tonnes/ha of green leaf can be obtained every other year, which compares to 2 - 3 tonnes of dry fibre. Plants are monocarpic - they live for a number of years without flowering, then put all their energy into flowering and die afterwards.

Propagating it: Seed - rarely produced. Plants frequently produce large numbers of bulbils, which root and grow into new plants when they fall to the ground. These bulbils have the capacity to remain viable for a number of years, even in unfavourable conditions.

Best place to grow:

Habit: Perennial

Hardiness: 9-11

Growth: Fast

Soil: Light (sandy), medium

Shade: Semi-shade, no shade

Moisture: Dry, moist

Things to keep in mind

The leaves are used as a fish poison. This is probably due to a high content of saponins in the leaves.

The plant has escaped from cultivation in some areas - in New Caledonia it has become a noxious weed. The plants inflorescences produce bulblets in large quantities; these disperse naturally and form dense impenetrable stands which exclude native vegetation.

Its other names

Local names

Aloe hijau, Giant cabuya, Green aloe, Thinbaw-nanat-gyi

Synonyms

Agave bulbosa K.Koch Agave commelyni Salm-Dyck Agave foetida L. Agave gigantea (Vent.) D.Dietr. Agave madagascariensis (Haw.) Salm-Dyck Aloe foetida (L.) Crantz Fourcroya gigantea (Vent.) Hook. Funium piliferum Willemet Furcraea atroviridis Jacobi & Goeff. Furcraea barillettii Jacobi Furcraea commelyni (Salm-Dyck) Kunth Furcraea gigantea Vent. Furcraea madagascariensis Haw. Furcraea viridis Hemsl. Furcraea watsoniana Sander