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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. 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
2 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
3 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
4 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. okoe Lava benches PRESERVED_SPECIMEN bryan jr., e.h. collector number: 760 Molokai BISH 11/26/1932
5 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. honolulu: wailupe valley rocks PRESERVED_SPECIMEN kerr, m. collector number: s.n. Molokai BISH 11/11/1946
6 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. koolau mountains: kipapa gulch; along stream bank PRESERVED_SPECIMEN hosaka, e.y. collector number: 823 Oahu BISH 10/30/1932
7 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. halawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN st.john, h. et al. collector number: 12668 Molokai BISH 12/27/1932
8 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. honolulu harbor PRESERVED_SPECIMEN kerr, m. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 8/8/1946
9 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
10 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. national tropical botanical garden, kalaheo, lawai valley, cliffs above medicinal area PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kauai US 12/8/2004
11 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Waialee, Oahu, T.H. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Otto Degener; Martina Martinez 11,123 KHD 11/16/1936
12 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
13 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. waialee, oahu, t.h. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN otto degener; martina martinez 11,123 IDS 11/16/1936
14 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. waialee, oahu, territory of hawaii PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener 11123 NY 11/16/1936
15 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
16 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Waimea Canyon; Koaie Trail, along stream. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Tim Flynn 1764 Kauai PTBG 6/3/1986
17 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. national tropical botanical garden, lawai kai PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kauai US 2/8/2005
18 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. near wiliwili camp, waimea canyon PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hawaii US
19 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. waialee PRESERVED_SPECIMEN o. degener & m. martinez 11123 Oahu US 11/16/1936
20 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
21 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
22 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
23 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Honolulu Harbor PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kerr, M. s.n. Oahu BISH 4/29/1905
24 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. mapulehu valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN forbes, c.n. collector number: 600.mo Oahu BISH 9/1/1912
25 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Okoe On open `a`a lava, escaped. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Bryan Jr., E.H. 760 Hawaii BISH 11/26/1932
26 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
27 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Mapulehu Valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Forbes, C.N. 600.Mo Molokai BISH 9/1/1912
28 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
29 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Halawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN St. John, H. 12668 Molokai BISH 12/27/1932
30 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Honolulu Harbor PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kerr, M. Collector Number: s.n. Oahu BISH 1/1/1946
31 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Kawaihapai PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Fosberg, F.R. 8944 Oahu BISH 12/11/1932
32 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
33 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Honolulu: Wailupe Valley PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Kerr, M. s.n. Oahu BISH 11/11/1946
34 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Maunahui, Kaunakakai Along road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN St. John, H. 12641 Molokai BISH 12/26/1932
35 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Waianae Mountains, Waianae Kai.; Puu Kalena Persisting by road. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN St. John, H. 12976 Oahu BISH 3/12/1933
36 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
37 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Halawa PRESERVED_SPECIMEN St.John, H. et al. Collector Number: 12668 Molokai BISH 12/27/1932
38 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. Kalaupapa; Kauhako crater, SW zone PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Wysong, M.L. 506 Molokai BISH 12/7/2004
39 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
40 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. kawaihapai PRESERVED_SPECIMEN fosberg, f.r. collector number: 8944 Oahu BISH 12/11/1932
41 Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. kalaupapa; kauhako crater, sw zone PRESERVED_SPECIMEN wysong, m.l. collector number: 506 Molokai BISH 12/7/2004
42 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
43 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
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