When time and funding permit, each flower (each plant species) will have its own page, and its own PDF, and eventually its own PPT so that professors and students have plenty of material on Guatemala (and Honduras, etc) to study.
Heliconia adflexa, Coban, Guatemala, Hotel Monja Blanca, FLAAR, by Nicholas Hellmuth
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Bibliography on Agave Americana (Asparagaceae) |
Bibliography on Agave americanaL., family Asparagaceae Agave americana is the accepted name for the species of the genus Agave (family Asparagaceae) according to The Plant List (www.theplantlist.org). It is commonly called “Maguey”, “Maguey Blanco” or “Pita”. Where can be found? The plant is originally native to Mexico, Arizona and Texas but cultivated worldwide as an ornamental plant and naturalized in many regions of the world. It naturally grows in arid and semi-arid climates. The FLAAR Mesoamerica team documented an Agave americana blooming at Guastatoya, El Progreso, Km 52 of highway CA9.
Edible use According to different authors, the plant can be eaten in many ways. The heart of the plant is very rich in saccharine matter and can be eaten when baked (Hendrick, 1972; Balls, 1975; Facciola, 1990). You can also ground the seed into a flour and use it as a thickener in soups or with cereal flours when making bread (Balls, 1975). The flower stalk can be roasted and used like asparagus (Balls, 1975; Facciola, 1990). The sap from the cut flowering stems is used as a syrup (Kunkel 1984) or fermented into pulque or mescal (Weiner, 1980) Medical use The sap of agaves has long been used in Central America as a binding agent for various powders used as poultices on wounds (Chevallier, 1996). In addition, the sap is antiseptic, diaphoretic, diuretic, emmenagogue and laxative (Lust, 1983). The plant is used internally in the treatment of indigestion, flatulence, constipation, jaundice and dysentery (Brown, 1995). According to Peana et al (1997) Agave americana contains anti-inflammatory properties for gastrointestinal diseases treatment. It is good a scalp disinfectant and tonic in cases of falling hair (Lust, 1983), for that reason you can find a lot of hair products based on A. americana extractions. Other uses Agave Americana leaves are harvested principally for fiber extraction. The production does not need agricultural chemicals, having a minimal environmental impact. During processing of Agave americana fibers, only organic waste is produced which can often be reused. The by-products after the processing of the agave takes the form of bio-degradable organic matter which can be used as “compost” or as an organic material to be returned to the land and as fuel for biogas production. In this way, they enhance soil fertility. Unlike synthetic fibers, Agave americana fiber is 100% biodegradable during its lifetime and Agave americana ropes and other products can be recycled as paper. The plants can be also used as an effective hedge to protect crops and land from predators and the extensive root system helps to reduce soil erosion in arid areas. It is also used as an ornamental plant and its flowering stems can be used for fencing. PDF, Articles, Books on Agave americanaL., family Asparagaceae
Suggested webpages with photos and information on Agave americana https://cibercactus.com/agave-americana/ https://colombia.inaturalist.org/taxa/64103-Agave-americana https://esacademic.com/dic.nsf/eswiki/33583
First posted February 8, 2021 |