Within every home I have
ever owned, a room was always set aside for relaxation; well my type of
relaxing at least. A standing lamp, poufy recliner, end table, overloaded
bookcases, and shelving full of houseplants; many plants hanging from the
ceiling as well. This was a personal
haven, a place to read, nap and enjoy the beauty all those plants put forth. Cacti were a fascinating addition; beautiful
flowers blooming on a plant that took enjoyment from stabbing any fingers that
came too close. While the majority of
houseplants needed consistent watering and maintenance; the cacti needed little
to survive, especially attention. One could
almost say they were introverts and quite antisocial.
Here in the southwest, the
cacti enjoy the freedom that comes from outdoor living; all that fresh air,
sunshine, dry soil. Perfect conditions
for growing, thriving and becoming a staple for the Native American people who
inhabited the land. This last part was
not on the to-do list of the cacti, so it is no wonder they grew long, sharp
needles to deal with those human hands and fingers. Notice, as with any living entity, I have
given the cacti personality traits; survival and enjoyment being two. I am very certain that horticulturalists and
botanists are rolling eyes right out of their sockets by now.
In my lifetime, I can now
say that I have seen the blooming of the “Century Plant” which is often
referred to as a cactus, but is actually an agave (Agave americana) which is a
succulent. The other nicknames for Agave
americana are “sentry plant”, “maguey” and “American aloe”; get ready for this,
it is not an aloe plant either. This
agave is native to Mexico, so it is not surprising to see it in New Mexico,
Arizona and Texas. Mormon pioneers
brought it to Utah when settlements were, not politely asked, but forced to
leave and resettle in the United States.
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| Richard Watkins - his height is over 6 feet. |
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| My hubby, Roy - his height is 5 feet, 10 inches. |
Though it is called
“Century Plant”, it typically lives only 10 to 30 years; flowering only
once. This agave expends all its living
energy to produce a towering 25 to 30-foot-tall stalk laden with lovely, yellow
blossoms. Suckers are produced at its
base, ensuring that new plants will take hold, grow and continue the lineage.
While there are many uses
for a local cactus, Prickly Pear (love the jelly and syrup products), why was
the Century Plant so prized by Native Americans, and the Spanish
explorers? Within the tall stalk, and
before it flowers, a sweet liquid called aguamiel (honey water) is found in the
hollow center; once fermented, an alcoholic drink called pulque is produced. The leaves of Agave americana grow 3 to 5
feet in length; the fibers called pita, can be used to make rope, matting or
coarse cloth. Found artifacts exhibited
that the fibers were also used in leather embroidery; now those are tough
fibers!
The yellow flowers of the
agave, and their buds, need to be boiled or steamed before they can be eaten.
After boiling, the flowers can be battered and deep fried, equal to those fancy
battered squash blossoms at an overpriced restaurant; or diced and added to
scrambled eggs, breakfast casserole, or any dish really that needs some added
veggie sweetness. Hint, remove the pollen
tips before boiling the flowers as they are quite bitter.
Needless to say, this has
been an interesting adventure into the knowledge regarding cactus vs.
agave. Not only did I get to delve into
history a little, but botany, uses of a plant by Native American culture, and a
culinary tidbit here and there. Hope you
enjoyed the journey as well.
Mary Cokenour
