Please help identify a tree.

FLH · 10th July 2011, 03:57 PM

On vacation in Garden City, SC this week and saw a 2 of these trees I have never noticed before. Both of them I saw had this palm plant looking base. Need help in identifying. Thanks!

Bowani Siam · 10th July 2011, 05:07 PM

haha that is no tree my friend - that is the inflorescence (the flower) of an Agave species. The 'palm' like structure at the base is the actual plant, and after it flowers it dies. Ahh well, the circle of life!

Joey Meister · 10th July 2011, 05:10 PM

wow, that is really neat, did not realize that agave flowers grew taller than a house. as big as it is i can see it being confused with some sort of weird tree

Jeff Darby · 10th July 2011, 06:51 PM

The original plant will die after flowering but it should have pups (suckers) at its base

Here's little info on Agave... Agave - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

They used Agave for many things..

Quote:

But the miracle of nature was the great Mexican aloe, or maguey, whose clustering pyramids of flowers, towering above their dark coronals of leaves, were seen sprinkled over many a broad acre of the table-land. As we have already noticed its bruised leaves afforded a paste from which paper was manufactured, its juice was fermented into an intoxicating beverage, pulque, of which to the natives, to this day, are extremely fond; its leaves further supplied an impenetrable thatch for the more humble dwellings; thread, of which coarse stuffs were made, and strong cords, were drawn from its tough and twisted fibers; pins and needles were made from the thorns at the extremity of its leaves; and the root, when properly cooked, was converted into a palatable and nutritious food. The agave, in short, was meat, drink, clothing, and writing materials for the Aztec! Surely, never did Nature enclose in so compact a form so many of the elements of human comfort and civilization!

FLH · 11th July 2011, 12:03 AM

Thanks for the information! This is very interesting!

10th July 2011, 03:57 PM	#1
FLH I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SC Posts: 2	Please help identify a tree. On vacation in Garden City, SC this week and saw a 2 of these trees I have never noticed before. Both of them I saw had this palm plant looking base. Need help in identifying. Thanks! Attached Thumbnails

10th July 2011, 05:07 PM	#2
Bowani Siam Mature tree Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Sydney Posts: 320	Re: Please help identify a tree. haha that is no tree my friend - that is the inflorescence (the flower) of an Agave species. The 'palm' like structure at the base is the actual plant, and after it flowers it dies. Ahh well, the circle of life!

10th July 2011, 05:10 PM	#3
Joey Meister Semi-mature vigorous tree Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: iowa Posts: 134	Re: Please help identify a tree. wow, that is really neat, did not realize that agave flowers grew taller than a house. as big as it is i can see it being confused with some sort of weird tree

11th July 2011, 12:03 AM	#5
FLH I'm new here so be nice Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SC Posts: 2	Re: Please help identify a tree. Thanks for the information! This is very interesting!

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