[Img Heavy] Crazy Plant Blooming

CharlieMurphy

United States22895 Posts

January 20 2010 21:46 GMT

Agave Attenuata aka a Century Plant, which as the name implies blooms/flowers after a really fucking long time. Like most succulent cactus type plants they all bloom this long erection like stem flower to spread their seeds.

Agave attenuata is a species of agave sometimes known as the "Lion's Tail", "Swan's Neck", or "Foxtail" for its development of a curved stem, unusual among agaves. Native to the plateau of central Mexico, as one of the unarmed agaves (it doesn't have spikes,teeth, or spines), it is popular as an ornamental plant in gardens.

Most Agave bloom straight up, really fast, and really thick/tall, like a tree, almost looks like something from another world (Aiur). More info at the end of the post

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_attenuata

So anyways, my grandma who is in her late 70s told me that the plant has been there nearly as long as she's been there (probably over 50 years) and just began to bloom last month.
It looks really amazing. especially if you can view the process in real time.

Anyways here are some pics, some from google/wiki and the last 2nd-5th are from the one in our yard.

Normal:

Grandma's:

Full Bloom:

Closeup:

Another Closeup:

Even Moar Closeup:

My grandma has all kinds of weird plants like this, she had this other plant that only bloomed after like 10 years or something on a full moon night, it smelled awesome then iirc it died T_T

More pics of different species flowering and some have up 25 foot trees! that bloom from these
http://static.newworldencyclopedia.org/thumb/6/6c/Agave_chiapensis_whole.jpg/244px-Agave_chiapensis_whole.jpg

http://images.google.com/images?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1GGIC_en___US356&um=1&q=agave flower&sa=N&start=18&ndsp=18

Check out what this guy made from this crazy plant:
http://www.bamboo-in.com/about-us/agavepolestar.htm

deathgod6

United States5064 Posts

January 20 2010 21:50 GMT

Killer plant imo. It's going for Virgin Mary!

ShoCkeyy

7815 Posts

January 20 2010 21:50 GMT

Wow for it to bloom after 50 years? That's amazing you were able to capture this and see it for yourself. I bet there are some people out there that would love this.