Common Name:

General Information

Furcraea macdougallii is an evergreen, tree-like succulent plant developing an unbranched trunk that can reach 6 - 9 metres tall and 30 - 70cm in diameter. The leaves develop as a rosette on top of the trunk, in mature plants there can be 80 - 120 leaves, each 140 - 180cm long and 6 - 10cm wide at the base[]. After several years of growth, a flowering stem that can be 5 - 9 metres tall is produced, after which the rosette will die. However, the plant usually produces a number of young plants around its base that will develop as new plants.
The plant is cultivated in southwest Mexico as a living fence and is harvested for local use as a source of soap. The plant is grown as an ornamental[].
Furcraea macdougallii has a limited range and has not been found in the wild since 1953. The plant is classified as 'Extinct in Wild' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[].

Known Hazards

The leaves are rich in saponins and have been used as a fish poison[].

Botanical References

Range

Southwest N. America - southern and western Mexico (Puebla, Oaxaca, Chiapas)

Habitat

Deciduous tropical forests, growing on stony, limestone and sandy soils; at elevations from 750 - 1,800 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Extinct in Wild
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	8.00 m
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Ornamental

Cultivation Details

The plant can spend long periods without flowering[].
Plants often produce large quantities of bulbils that fall to the ground and develop into new plants. The bulbils can withstand difficult conditions and remain viable for a considerable period[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The plant is used as a living fence[].

Other Uses

The leaves are rich in saponins, when crushed in water they produce a rich foam and can be used to wash various utensils and clothes[].

Propagation

Seed -

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