century plant
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: 1. A type of large agave plant: A tropical American plant characterized by a thick, central stem (rosette) from which grow long, pointed, sword-shaped leaves. It is known for growing for many years before producing a single, tall flower spike and then dying. Some species are cultivated for their ornamental value or for the fiber obtained from their leaves.
Usage Examples
- Noun:
- The botanical garden has a magnificent century plant that is finally starting to flower.
- Despite its name, a century plant typically lives for 10 to 30 years, not a full century.
- Fibers from the leaves of the century plant can be used to make rope and twine.
Advanced Usage
- The term "century plant" is often used generically for large agaves, particularly . Its dramatic life cycle, where it flowers once and then dies, is a classic example of a monocarpic plant.
- The century plant's monocarpic nature means its spectacular bloom is a once-in-a-lifetime event for the individual plant.
Variants and Related Words
- Agave (n): The botanical genus name for the century plant and related succulents.
- Tequila is made from the fermented sap of the blue agave, a relative of the century plant.
- American aloe (n): A common name for , a specific species of century plant.
- Maguey (n): A name used in Mexico for various agave plants, including types of century plant, which are used for fiber and to produce alcoholic beverages like pulque.
Synonyms
- Agave: The direct scientific and common synonym.
- American aloe: A synonym for the most common species (), though it is not a true aloe.
Notes on Meaning
- The name "century plant" is a misnomer, referring to the long time it takes to flower rather than its actual lifespan. It emphasizes the plant's slow growth and dramatic, terminal flowering event.
Noun
- tropical American plants with basal rosettes of fibrous sword-shaped leaves and flowers in tall spikes; some cultivated for ornament or for fiber