SISAL HEMP or HENEQUEN, of Florida and the Bahamas, the product of Agave rigida, variety sisalana, a native of Yucatan, but found in other parts of Central America and distributed to the West Indies, where it is being increasingly cultivated.
Agave (q.v.) is a member of the family Amaryllidaceae; and a well-known species of the genus, Agave americana, the century plant, will suggest the habit of the sisal hemp, which, however, differs in the absence of prickles along the margin of the fleshy leaf. After six or seven years the flowering stalk or "pole" de velops from the centre of the leaf-cluster, and grows to the height of 15 or 20 ft. The flowers are borne in dense clusters at the ends of short lateral branches, and closely resemble those of Agave americana. After they have begun to wither, buds are developed from the point of union with the flower-stalk; these form tiny plants, which, when several inches long, become detached and fall to the ground. Those that fall in a suitable place take root and are soon large enough to transplant. After flowering the main plant perishes, but is renewed by suckers springing from the base of the stem ; these suckers are then planted, and the leaves should be ready for cutting in about four years. The other method of
planting is by means of "pole" plants just described.
In collecting the fibre the leaves are cut off at the base, the spine at the top end removed, and the leaves carried in bundles to the machines. Here two scraping wheels remove the softer parts from the fibre of the leaves. The fibre is yellowish-white, straight, smooth and clean, and a valuable cordage fibre second only to manila fibre in strength.
The plants thrive on arid rocky land, growing, for instance, on the Florida Keys upon the almost naked coral rock. Their north ern limit of cultivation is determined by frost ; in Florida this is represented by the line of 27° N. An inferior fibre is obtained from the leaves of another species, Agave decipiens, which is found wild along the coasts and keys of Florida. It is known as the false sisal hemp.