From the Haitian name for an unrelated species of Manihot (Euphorbiaceae).
Plants stemless to tree-like, rosettes dying or persisting after flowering. Leaves long-lived, fleshy, fibrous, linear-lanceolate, spine-tipped, entire to toothed. Inflorescence a terminal raceme or panicle, not bulbiferous. Flowers bisexual, campanulate to globose, cream to white. Sepals and petals similar, free or fused only at base. Stamens 6, included.ovary superior, 3 chambered. Fruit a dehiscent capsule or spongy and indehiscent. Seeds obovoid to flattened, black.
Grown for the spiky foliage and white egg-shaped flowers.
Seeds or suckers.
About 35 species in the Americas, primarily in Mexico. 3 or 4 species are commonly cultivated with many more in specialist succulent plant collections.
Flowers with included stamens and superior ovary.
Trelease (1902), Matuda & Lujan (1980), Forster (1986, 1987), Clary & Simpson (1995).
Source: (2005). Agavaceae. In: . Horticultural Flora of South-eastern Australia. Volume 5. Flowering plants. Monocotyledons. The identification of garden and cultivated plants. University of New South Wales Press.
