The plant sisal and henequen are from Agave species belonging to the family of Agavaceae. Sisal and henequen are elongated firm fibers utilized mainly in cordage like ropes, cords, and twine. Their structures are minutely magnified under the microscope such as stereo binocular microscope. They are gathered from the two to four feet in length leaves of agave plants. Sisal is the most valuable fiber. It is acquired from Agave sisalana Perr. ex. Engelm. Henequen is taken from Agave fourcroydes Lem. and it is responsible for virtually all of the fibers generated that were left behind. Sisal is grown in Tanzania, Brazil, Angola, Madagascar and Haiti. Henequen is a much feebler fiber than sisal but has a particular market, is grown mainly in Mexico. The differences of sisal and henequen can be observed clearly using microscopy by means of stereo binocular microscope.
The plant has rigid, weighty, relentless leaves, having two to four feet length, four to eight inches width, and one to four inches thickness that are basal or originated from a short stem with three to six feet length. The flower trunk is a lofty spike or panicle, six to fifteen feet on top of the rosette of leaves, which its minute details can be viewed via microscopy using the stereo binocular microscope. The plant develops gradually reaching a height of merely six inches in nine from planting and two feet after two years. It is almost completely grown at four years when its stem is approximately eight inches across and the gathering of the lower leaves starts. A mean of one hundred eighty-five leaves may be collected prior to the end of leaf growth and the flower trunk or pole that looks like a giant asparagus buds, sprouts quickly upward. From the initial look of the pole through flowering, fruiting and demise of the whole plant covers a period of approximately six months. Around one hundred plants for every acre are sustained for optimum generation of fiber.
The one and a half to two and a half inches, pale-green color, funnel-formed flower is composed of six narrow, integrated lobes as seen under the microscope such as stereo binocular microscope. Six long stamens originated from the bottom of the corolla and enclose the ovary has three locules having two series of ovules in every locule that forms into a green, fleshy capsule approximately two inches in length, becoming black at its maturation. This capsule can contain as many as three hundred ovules but commonly below one hundred seeds as ascertained via microscopy using the stereo binocular microscope. The fertile seeds have triangular forms, colored black, and rigid. The unfertilized ovules generate white-colored, papery, nonviable seeds as seen under the microscope such as stereo binocular microscope.
Blossoming of the floret starts with the extrusion to two inches of the six anthers from the apex of the bud thirty-six to forty-eight hours prior to the emission of pollen and three to four days prior to responsiveness of stigma as monitored via microscopy with the aid of stereo binocular microscope. The anthers start to dehisce early in the afternoon and on the next morning the entire pollen has been discharged as examined by means of microscope such as stereo binocular microscope. The style starts to lengthened and turns responsive but by then the stamens have wilted and fall limp. One to two days subsequent to its fertilization, the style wilts and ovarian formation commences. The entire flowers on a branch of the panicle do not unlock at once. Thus, pollen from freshly unlocked flowers can pollinate those that have unlocked earlier. Flowering takes certain weeks as it shifts from the base to the apex of the pole.
The flower generates huge amount of nectar and somewhat hefty, yellow, strong-odorous pollen, both of which are greatly appealing to bees. This pollen is typically fully taken away from the anthers by bees prior to the responsiveness of the stigma. The honey generated from agaves is commonly of inferior value with a strong obnoxious aroma, strong flavor and dark hue.
Proliferation of the agaves is primarily by bulbils or suckers. The planter favors this procedure since it enables him to sustain pure lines. Nevertheless, where seed yield is wanted, cross-pollination is needed. The pollen is discharged inside a flower prior to receptivity of the stigma. Hence, for fertilization to transpire, pollen should be transported to another flower with responsive stigmas. Sue to the huge quantity of ovules in the ovary, various pollen grains should be stored on the comparatively tiny stigma as seen via microscopy using the stereo binocular microscope. The weighty pollen is not a wind-brought kind nor would gravity be somewhat responsible for the pollination of the various ovules of a flower.
Bees specifically honey bees are the main pollinators. For optimum seed yield the planter must prefer building up the bee populace in the area.