Smallflower century plant (Agave parviflora) profile
Smallflower century plant, rosette 15-20 cm in diameter, narrowly lanceolate, 10 cm long x 2 cm wide, spines 0.5 cm long, dark green with white lines, margin with curly white cilia.
Smallflower century plant picture
Morphological characteristics of Smallflower century plant
Older Smallflower century plant has distinct stems, 25-50 cm tall. Leaves are roselette, fleshy, sword-shaped, light green, sometimes variegated, 45-60 cm long, 6-7.5 cm wide, with a small spiny serrated edge, a sharp sharp tip, dark brown spines, 1.2-1.5 cm long. Panicles of Smallflower century plant are 5 -- 7 m long, a few branched; Flowers ca. is 5 cm long; Perianth tube is short, perianth lobes 6; Smallflower century plant has 6 stamens, attached to throat of perianth tube, filaments linear, projecting outside perianth lobes; Ovary is inferior, 3-loculed, style long, stigma capitate. Capsule is subglobose, 3-lobed, stipitate, apical with a short beak. The life cycle is equivalent to sisal.
The distribution area of the Smallflower Century Plant
Smallflower century plant is native to tropical America; Smallflower century plant is often introduced and cultivated in the provinces of South China and Southwest China. Smallflower century plant has been grown in Yunnan for many years, and can blossom and bear fruit normally in the hot and dry valley areas of the Red River, the Nujiang River and the Jinsha River as well as in Kunming.
Smallflower century plant propagation methods
Smallflower century plant is commonly used to divide and sow. Often in the spring will be beside the mother plant tiller growth of the young plant cut, slightly dry after direct pot. However, Smallflower century plants have poor tillering ability and few seed plants, so the multiplication coefficient of division is very low. Sowing, adult Smallflower century plants take moss to blossom and seed, after flower leaves gradually wither and die. Germinate about 20-25 days after sowing and can be potted until 2-3 true leaves are grown.
Smallflower century plant growing methods
Seedling maintenance
Smallflower century plant seedlings grow slowly, do not need sufficient watering during the growing period, pot soil is better kept slightly dry. Over-watering makes the roots perishable. In summer put Smallflower century plant outdoor maintenance, water evaporation is large, can be appropriate more watering and foliar spraying. If the long-term growth in too shaded places, the leaves of the white mottled water is obvious, white filaments are reduced, affecting the ornamental effect.
Daily maintenance
Smallflower century plant likes a warm, dry and sunny environment. Smallflower century plant is resistant to cold, shade and drought .It is better to use fertile, well drained sandy loam. Winter temperature is not lower than 5℃ should be indoor potted, need to ensure adequate lighting, culture soil can be loam, leaf rot soil, coarse sand and other parts of the mixture, the basin floor fully drained and ventilated. Smallflower century plant seedlings grow slowly, do not need sufficient watering during the growing period, pot soil is better kept slightly dry. Over-watering makes the roots perishable. Summer put outdoor maintenance, water evaporation is large, can be appropriate more watering and foliar spraying. If the long-term growth in too shaded places, the leaves of the white mottled water is obvious, white filaments are reduced, affecting the ornamental effect. Fertilizer and water management should be strengthened in the growing season. Because Smallflower century plants grow slowly, they don't have to be repotted every year.
Pest control
Brown spot often occurs, and it can be used with Bordeaux liquid (1:1:100) spray control, every half a month spray 1 times. Insects have whitefly and scale insect harm, spray with 40% oxidized diethoate emulsion 1500 times liquid kill.
The main value of the smallflower century plant
Smallflower century plant is native to America; China's southern provinces and regions to introduce cultivation for the production of ship cable, rope, sacks, paper and other raw materials; Other provinces in most of the common greenhouse potted plants, for ornamental. In narrow Ye Long "of the total saponins of yuan for the content of 60% or so, worthy, for Sue saponins yuan is a synthetic protein assimilation of steroid hormone drugs raw materials.
The leaf fiber of Smallflower century plant is used for making ship cables, ropes, sacks, etc., but the yield and quality of the fiber are not as good as sisal. The content of total steroid saponin is high, which is an important raw material for producing steroid hormone drugs. Greenhouses are often potted for viewing.