Agaves

 

At uncultivated land you often see the agave, which in Greek also goes by the name 'athanatos' (immortal). The plant is not quite immortal, because after flowering the whole plant dies. In the other hand it flowers only after app. 80 years.

 

 

The agave, you see in Crete, is the agave americana, which in american also goes by the name 'century plant', which of couse refers to the plant's longevity.

 

 

The agave grows in subtropical and dry regions. Its huge leaves are high in fibres in ordre to prevent them from collapsing.
 

 

At the end of its life the agave sends in a short time a long and thick flower stem several metres (5-10) in the air.

 

 

As the unfolding of the flowers goes on, it almost look like a Christmas tree with several small branches. In the branches flowers develop as small copies of the plant and are provided with a spike at the bottom so that they can consolidate into the soil when falling from the parent plant. This is the reason why you often see agaves growing in groups. The agave also multiplies by suckers.

 

 

One of the largest plantations of agaves can be found on the island of Imeri Gramvousa.