Agavaceae - Sisal family

Monocarpic or perennial plants. Stems short or 0, sometimes trunk-like. Leaves large, borne in rosettes, often succulent, usually hard, leathery and spine-tipped. Inflorescence a large spike or panicle. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic; perianth segments 6, united for most of their length. Stamens 6. Ovary inferior, 3-locular. Fruit a capsule. Seeds numerous, flattened, black.

Comment: - A number of species of this family are naturalized in Zimbabwe. However, the names of most these plants are not always clear.
- Genera included by us under Agavaceae are nowadays often placed as subfamily Agavoideae under Asparagaceae. However, we have followed the more traditional treatment for the time being.

Worldwide: 13 genera and 210 species, tropical and warm zones, especially arid America.

Zimbabwe: 7 cultivated genera and 15 cultivated taxa.