451
Agave
americana L..
Synonym
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:
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Agave spectabilis Salisb.
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Family
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Agavaceae
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Local name
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English- Century plant
Malayalam- Aanakaitha
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Distribution
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Tropical America, introduced in to the
Paleotropics
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Distribution in Kerala
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Kottayam, Palakkad,
Thiruvananthapuram, Wayanad, Kannur, Kasaragode, Malappuram, Kollam.
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Habitat
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Cultivated
along the fences
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IUCN
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:
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Least concerned
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Endemic/Exotic
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Exotic
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Uses
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The sap is antiseptic, diaphoretic,
diuretic and laxative. An infusion of the chopped leaf is purgative and the
juice of the leaves is applied to bruises. The plant is used internally in the
treatment of indigestion, flatulence, constipation, jaundice and dysentery.
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Key botanical characters:
Rosette of leaves to from a short
stout stem; roots fibrous. Leaves lanceolate, rigid, grey-glaucous to light
green, base sheathing, margins toothed apical spines to 4 cm, brownish. Scape
to 8 m; bracts 3-angular, flower-bearing on upper third. Inflorescence of
umbellate clusters of flowers. pedicel stout. Perianth- lobes 3 + 3,
subequal, lanceolate, to 3 cm long, cucullate at apex. Stamens 6, exserted;
filaments c. 8 cm; Ovary inferior, 3-celled; with numerous ovules in 2 rows,
on axile placentae per cell; style elongate; stigma 3-lobed. Capsule oblong,
to 5 x 2 cm, loculicidal, beaked; seeds flat, black.
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