Mauritius-hemp (Furcraea foetida, Syn. Pl. Succ.: 78 (1812))

Family: Asparagaceae

Author: (L.) Haw.

Bibliography: Syn. Pl. Succ.: 78 (1812)

Year: 1812

Status: accepted

Rank: species

Genus: Furcraea

Vegetable: False

Observations: Costa Rica to N. South America and S. Caribbean

Description

Mauritius-hemp, scientifically known as Furcraea foetida, is a remarkable plant belonging to the Asparagaceae family. Native to a range that spans from Costa Rica through Northern South America to the southern regions of the Caribbean, this evergreen perennial is well-adapted to tropical and subtropical climates.

Mauritius-hemp is notable for its striking rosette of large, sword-shaped leaves that can grow up to 2 meters in length. The leaves are fibrous, usually spineless, and have a distinctive, fleshy texture. The plant can become quite tall, with some specimens reaching heights of 3-5 meters when the flowering stalk is included.

One of the plant’s unique features is its impressive inflorescence. During flowering, Furcraea foetida sends up a towering spike, which can reach heights of up to 12 meters. This spike bears numerous small, greenish-yellow, and somewhat foul-smelling flowers, the characteristic from which the specific epithet ‘foetida’—meaning ‘fetid’—is derived. Pollination often results in the production of bulbils, which can fall off and root easily, contributing to the plant’s spread.

Historically, the fibrous leaves of Mauritius-hemp have been utilized for making ropes, sacks, and other durable goods, much like the fibers from related species such as agave and yucca. Because of its strong, fibrous leaves, it has also been used commercially to produce a type of natural fiber known as ‘henequen’.

Despite its industrial uses, Furcraea foetida also serves an ornamental purpose. It is often cultivated in gardens and parks for its dramatic appearance and architectural foliage. The plant’s ability to thrive in poor, sandy soils and withstand drought conditions makes it a desirable choice for xeriscaping and landscape projects aimed at minimizing water usage.

Mauritius-hemp is documented in scientific literature such as the “Synopsis Plantarum Succulentarum” published in 1812, underscoring its importance and recognition among botanists and horticulturists. The taxonomic designation by (L.) Haw. reflects the contributions of Carl Linnaeus, who initially described the species, and Adrian Hardy Haworth, who later expanded on Linnaeus’s work.

In summary, Mauritius-hemp is a versatile and robust plant that combines utility and aesthetics. Its remarkable adaptability and ease of propagation have allowed it to maintain a steady presence in its native habitats and beyond, ensuring that its legacy endures both as a functional resource and a striking garden feature.

Common Names

Eng: mauritius hemp, mauritius-hemp, giant cabuya, green-aloe
Deu: mauritiushanf
Fra: aloès vert, chanvre de maurice
Spa: cáñamo de mauritania, pita floja, pita gigante
Por: cânhamo-da-mauritânia, furcroia, pita, piteira, piteira-amarela
Swe: mauritiushampa
En: Mauritius-hemp, Giant cabuya, Green-aloe, Mauritius hemp, Green aloe, Maguey, Sisal
Fi: Mauritiuksenhamppu
Fr: Aloès vert, Chanvre de Maurice, Choca vert, Sissal, Agave fétide
De: Mauritiushanf
Pl: Furkroja olbrzymia
Pt: Pita, Piteira, Cânhamo-da-mauritânia, Furcroia, Piteira-amarela, Piteira gigante
Es: Pita floja, Pita gigante, Cáñamo de Mauritania
Sv: Mauritiushampa
Zh-tw: 大龍舌蘭, 毛里斯麻, 臭萬年, 萬年麻
Te: ఫర్క్రేఏ ఫోఎటిడ
To: Faumalila

Synonyms

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

Distribution

• Colombia (native)
• Costa Rica (native)
• French Guiana (native)
• Guyana (native)
• Marquesas (native)
• Netherlands Antilles (native)
• Panamá (native)
• Suriname (native)
• Trinidad-Tobago (native)
• Venezuela (native)
• Venezuelan Antilles (native)
• Andaman Is. (introduced)
• Angola (introduced)
• Ascension (introduced)
• Assam (introduced)
• Bangladesh (introduced)
• Benin (introduced)
• Bolivia (introduced)
• Canary Is. (introduced)
• Cape Provinces (introduced)
• Cape Verde (introduced)
• Comoros (introduced)
• Congo (introduced)
• Cook Is. (introduced)
• Cuba (introduced)
• Dominican Republic (introduced)
• Fiji (introduced)
• Florida (introduced)
• Haiti (introduced)
• Hawaii (introduced)
• India (introduced)
• Jamaica (introduced)
• Kermadec Is. (introduced)
• KwaZulu-Natal (introduced)
• Leeward Is. (introduced)
• Madagascar (introduced)
• Madeira (introduced)
• Marianas (introduced)
• Mauritius (introduced)
• Mozambique Channel I (introduced)
• Nauru (introduced)
• New Caledonia (introduced)
• New South Wales (introduced)
• New Zealand North (introduced)
• Niue (introduced)
• Norfolk Is. (introduced)
• Northern Provinces (introduced)
• Portugal (introduced)
• Queensland (introduced)
• Rwanda (introduced)
• Samoa (introduced)
• Senegal (introduced)
• Seychelles (introduced)
• Sri Lanka (introduced)
• St.Helena (introduced)
• Tasmania (introduced)
• Thailand (introduced)
• Tonga (introduced)
• Tuamotu (introduced)
• Windward Is. (introduced)

Additional Images

Habit

Taken Aug 28, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 28, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 28, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 25, 2011 by EOL − Ahmad Fuad Morad (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Sep 14, 2018 by herve rey (cc-by-sa)

Leaf

Taken Dec 28, 2018 by Naushad B M (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 29, 2021 by morea ana (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 28, 2021 by Vishal Rout (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 25, 2021 by Choirotul Licia Faransya 05 (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 18, 2021 by Carvalho da Silva Guilherme (cc-by-sa)

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

© copyright of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Fruit

Taken Sep 30, 2022 by Belinda dawsey (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 4, 2021 by Jean-Christophe Lombardo (cc-by-sa)

Taken Feb 16, 2021 by myriam dupuis (cc-by-sa)

Taken Nov 16, 2022 by Emile KOKÉ (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 4, 2022 by J F (cc-by-sa)

Flower

Taken Oct 31, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jan 1, 1900 by EOL − Ori Fragman-Sapir (cc-by-nc-sa)

Taken Apr 9, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 8, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 8, 2017 by Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Bark

Taken May 15, 2022 by 67terzi (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 15, 2019 by Vinicius Saragiotto (cc-by-sa)

Taken May 15, 2022 by 67terzi (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 5, 2022 by Jardel Dupont (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 16, 2021 by anabalon diego (cc-by-sa)

Other

Taken May 15, 2019 by Vinicius Saragiotto (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jul 12, 2021 by Loïc Tulasne (cc-by-sa)

Taken Jun 8, 2015 by Tela Botanica − Hugo SANTACREU (cc-by-sa)

Taken Aug 28, 2017 by Tela Botanica − Sylvain PIRY (cc-by-sa)

Sources

• WFO (No URL)
• IPNI (No URL)
• GBIF (https://www.gbif.org/species/2769796)
• POWO (http://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:64429-1)
• PlantNet (https://identify.plantnet.org/species/the-plant-list/Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw.)

Specifications

Growth habit>: Subshrub, Forb/herb

Growth