Agave Parryi, Southern Arizona

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Parry's agave (Agave Parryi) is also known as the "Century Plant", a name that has been given to many agave species. Parry's agave is distinguished by its rounded leaves with a point at the tip that is dark brown or black. The plant can live more than twenty-five years before producing a bloom spike that ranges between twelve to twenty-five feet in height. The plant dies after blooming. Parry's agave is native to the southwest United States and Mexico, and was used by native Americans as a source of soap, food, fiber, medicine and weapons. Its leaves contain extremely strong fibers that were often used as thread for sewing or woven together into rope.