Common Name: Mauritius Hemp

General Information

Furcraea foetida is a succulent, evergreen, perennial plant producing a rosette of leaves from 40 - 180cm long from a short woody bole that can be up to 1 metre long[].
The plant has been cultivated for fibre production in many tropical and sub-tropical regions[, ]. This has not always been successful and nowadays the plant is grown mainly as a hedge and ornamental[].

Known Hazards

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

Botanical References

Range

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

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

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[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

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[].

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[].

Propagation

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[].

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