Agave sisalana
Sisal
Agave sisalana, commonly known as sisal, is a perennial succulent native to Mexico. Renowned for its long, tough fibers, it is a vital industrial resource used in rope and textile production. Beyond its commercial utility, this resilient plant holds significant botanical importance due to its hardiness and rapid growth.
- Scientific name: Agave sisalana
- Family: Asparagaceae
- Native range: Europe
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further categorized under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Asparagales, falling within the family Asparagaceae. Finally, it is identified by its genus, Agave.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Asparagales | WCVP |
| Family | Asparagaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Agave | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, known scientifically as Agave sisalana, is recognized by various common names across different Chinese linguistic regions. In Simplified Chinese, as used in mainland China (zh-cn), Singapore (zh-sg), and general contexts (zh-hans), it is called 剑麻. In Traditional Chinese, the name is written as 劍麻, which is the standard form used in Hong Kong (zh-hk) and other regions utilizing traditional characters (zh-hant).| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|---|---|
| zh-hans | 剑麻 | Wikidata |
| zh-hant | 劍麻 | Wikidata |
| zh-hk | 劍麻 | Wikidata |
| zh-cn | 剑麻 | Wikidata |
| zh-sg | 剑麻 | Wikidata |
| zh-tw | 西沙爾瓊麻 | Wikidata |
| eu | Sisal | Wikidata |
| pl | Agawa sizalowa | Wikidata |
| qu | Sisal | Wikidata |
| nah | Nequēnnetl | Wikidata |
Distribution
This plant exhibits a widespread presence across several regions in Southern Europe. In Southwestern Europe, its distribution includes the Balearic Islands, Sardinia, and mainland Spain. Moving toward the eastern part of the continent, it can also be found throughout Southeastern Europe. Specifically, its range extends into Albania and various parts of Italy. These diverse locations highlight the plant's ability to thrive within the Mediterranean climate zone.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Southwestern Europe | Baleares | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Sardegna | WCVP |
| Southwestern Europe | Spain | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Albania | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Italy | WCVP |
| Southeastern Europe | Sicilia | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Algeria | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Libya | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Morocco | WCVP |
| Northern Africa | Tunisia | WCVP |
Plant Parts
This plant, Agave sisalana, is primarily valued for its long, fibrous leaves which are the most significant part used in both industrial and medicinal contexts. These leaves are thick, sword-shaped, and characterized by their tough, structural integrity, containing strong fibers that are extracted for various purposes. In traditional medicinal practices, different preparations of the leaves may be utilized, although their primary global importance lies in the high-quality fiber they produce.- Total parts
- 1
- Scientific sources
- 1
| Plant Part | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| leaves | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Chemicals
Agave sisalana has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include acetate, lignins, saponins, sinapyl acetate, sinapyl alcohol.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| acetate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| lignins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| saponins | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sinapyl acetate | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| sinapyl alcohol | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Medicinal Uses
Agave sisalana has 2 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include Inflammation, burns.
- Total uses
- 2
- Scientific sources
- 2
Most Reported Uses
| Use | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| Inflammation | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| burns | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |