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Furcraea foetida

(L.) Haw. (1812)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Monocots Order: Asparagales Family: Asparagaceae Genus: Furcraea

Mauritius hemp

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Acaulescent perennials.

Stems: Subterranean stems.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate, spiraled. Blades lanceolate, rigid, straight or curved, up to 20–25 dm long, 1.4–2 dm wide. Apex with a short blunt spine. Base sessile. Surfaces bright green, blade foetid when bruised. Margins ± with a few widely spaced marginal prickles, especially toward base, these 4–10 mm long. Veins parallel. Sessile. Stipules absent.

Flowers: Flowers in inflorescences 6–12 m long, bulbils usually formed after flowering. Flowers bisexual (perfect), strongly fragrant. Tepals white to greenish white or pale yellowish green, 2.5–3.3 cm long, outer ones 1–1.4 cm wide, inner ones 1.4– 1.8 cm wide. Stamens 6; filaments with a spongy thickening near middle, inserted at base of tepals. Ovary inferior, 3-celled; ovules numerous per cell; style filiform to subulate; stigma small.

Fruit: Capsules cylindrical; with loculicidal dehiscience. Seeds black; flat.

Ploidy: 2n = 18; 34; 60

Habitat: Naturalized and often locally abundant in dry to mesic; disturbed sites on slopes; rocky ledges; and in pastures.

Elevation Range: 0–615 m.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Molokai Naturalized
Lana'i Naturalized
Kaho'olawe Naturalized
Maui Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Vegetative Reproduction

Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Syn. Pl. Succ.: 78 (1812)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1350 (K, O, Mo, L, M, H); Staples & Herbst 2005:578 (KEY), 586 (DESCR); Starr & Starr 2011:23 (Ka)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Waimea Canyon; Koaie Trail, along stream. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 1764 Kauai PTBG 6/3/1986
2 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. national tropical botanical garden, lawai kai PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kauai US 2/8/2005
3 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. national tropical botanical garden, kalaheo, lawai valley, cliffs above medicinal area PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kauai US 12/8/2004
4 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. near wiliwili camp, waimea canyon PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hawaii US
5 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. keawanui bay, rocky coast along windward side of island PRESERVED_SPECIMEN w. l. wagner & d. h. lorence 5713 Molokai US 7/30/1987
6 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Kalaupapa; Kauhako crater, SW zone PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Wysong, M.L. 506 Molokai BISH 12/7/2004
7 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Honolulu: Manoa Valley; Lyon Arboretum, ML Makai. L-76.541 PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Nagata, K.M. 1476 Oahu BISH 9/20/1977
8 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Mapulehu Valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C.N. 600.Mo Molokai BISH 9/1/1912
9 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. maunahui, kaunakakai Along road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN st.john, h. baker, r.j.; coulter, j.w.; fosberg, f.r.; yuncker, t.g. collector number: 12641 Molokai BISH 12/26/1932
10 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Halawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN St. John, H. 12668 Molokai BISH 12/27/1932
11 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Honolulu Harbor PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kerr, M. s.n. Oahu BISH 4/29/1905
12 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Kawaihapai PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Fosberg, F.R. 8944 Oahu BISH 12/11/1932
13 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Keawanui Bay, rocky coast along windward side of the island Gigantic agavoid plants very common on steep slopes around bay. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Wagner, W.L. 5713 Molokai BISH 7/30/1987
14 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Honolulu: Wailupe Valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kerr, M. s.n. Oahu BISH 11/11/1946
15 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Maunahui, Kaunakakai Along road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN St. John, H. 12641 Molokai BISH 12/26/1932
16 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Waianae Mountains, Waianae Kai.; Puu Kalena Persisting by road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN St. John, H. 12976 Oahu BISH 3/12/1933
17 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Honolulu Harbor PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kerr, M. Collector Number: s.n. Oahu BISH 1/1/1946
18 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. honolulu: manoa valley; lyon arboretum, ml makai. l-76.541 PRESERVED_SPECIMEN nagata, k.m. collector number: 1476 Oahu BISH 9/20/1977
19 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. keawanui bay, coast along windward side of island PRESERVED_SPECIMEN w. l. wagner & d. h. lorence 5713 USF 7/30/1987
20 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. W Maui, S of Napili Honokowai, N of Kahana Stream Disturbed area next to pineapple field. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Annable, C.R. Oppenheimer, H. Collector Number: 3885 Maui BISH 1/14/1999
21 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. waialee PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener & m. martinez 11123 Oahu US 11/16/1936
22 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. mapulehu valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN forbes, c.n. collector number: 600.mo Oahu BISH 9/1/1912
23 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Okoe On open `a`a lava, escaped. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Bryan Jr., E.H. 760 Hawaii BISH 11/26/1932
24 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. keawanui bay, rocky coast along windward side of the island Gigantic agavoid plants very common on steep slopes around bay. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN wagner, w.l. lorence, d.h. collector number: 5713 Molokai BISH 7/30/1987
25 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. kawaihapai PRESERVED_SPECIMEN fosberg, f.r. collector number: 8944 Oahu BISH 12/11/1932
26 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Halawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN St.John, H. et al. Collector Number: 12668 Molokai BISH 12/27/1932
27 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. kalaupapa; kauhako crater, sw zone PRESERVED_SPECIMEN wysong, m.l. collector number: 506 Molokai BISH 12/7/2004
28 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. W Maui, S of Napili Honokowai, N of Kahana Stream Disturbed area next to pineapple field. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Annable, C.R. 3885 Maui BISH 1/14/1999
29 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. w maui, s of napili honokowai, n of kahana stream Disturbed area next to pineapple field. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN annable, c.r. oppenheimer, h. collector number: 3885 Maui BISH 1/14/1999
30 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. North Kona. Ahupuaa of Kaloko. Mauka; Kaloko Cloud Forest Sanctuary; Norman Bezona's prop Disturbed area next to pineapple field PRESERVED_SPECIMEN C. R. Annable 3885 Hawaii HAPI 1/14/1999
31 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. waianae mountains, waianae kai.; puu kalena Persisting by road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN st.john, h. collector number: 12976 Oahu BISH 3/12/1933
32 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. honolulu: wailupe valley rocks PRESERVED_SPECIMEN kerr, m. collector number: s.n. Molokai BISH 11/11/1946
33 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. okoe Lava benches PRESERVED_SPECIMEN bryan jr., e.h. collector number: 760 Molokai BISH 11/26/1932
34 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. waialee, oahu, territory of hawaii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener 11123 NY 11/16/1936
35 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. koolau mountains: kipapa gulch; along stream bank PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hosaka, e.y. collector number: 823 Oahu BISH 10/30/1932
36 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Off Kuheia Rd. Spreading from patch ~50 cm on side; Leucaena leucocephala, Heteropogon contortus, Prosopis pallida PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Starr, F. 080210-02 Kahoolawe BISH 2/10/2008
37 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. honolulu harbor PRESERVED_SPECIMEN kerr, m. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 8/8/1946
38 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. halawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN st.john, h. et al. collector number: 12668 Molokai BISH 12/27/1932
39 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. off kuheia rd. spreading from patch ~50 cm on side; Leucaena leucocephala, Heteropogon contortus, Prosopis pallida PRESERVED_SPECIMEN starr, f. starr, k. collector number: 080210-02 Kahoolawe BISH 2/10/2008
40 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. waialee, oahu, t.h. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN otto degener; martina martinez 11,123 IDS 11/16/1936
41 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Waialee, Oahu, T.H. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Otto Degener; Martina Martinez 11,123 KHD 11/16/1936
42 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Maui. S of Napili Honokawai, N side of Kahana Stream Disturbed area next to pineapple field PRESERVED_SPECIMEN C. R. Annable 3885 NY 1/14/1999
43 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. maui. s of napili honokawai, n side of kahana stream Disturbed area next to pineapple field PRESERVED_SPECIMEN c. r. annable 3885 NY 1/14/1999
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