Agave is a genus of plants of the family Amaryllidaceae which includes the daffodil and narcissus. They are popularly known as American aloes and formerly called the century plant from the mistaken belief that it lives a hundred years before flowering, then flowers and dies. They are generally large, and have a massive tuft of fleshy leaves with a spiny apex. They live for many years - ten to seventy according to treatment - before flowering. When this takes place the tall flowering stem springs from the centre of the tuft of leaves, and grows very rapidly until it reaches a height of 15, 20, or even 40 feet, bearing towards the end a large number of flowers; then the plant apparently dies down to the ground but a lateral bud springs from the underground part of the stem and a new plant is formed. The best-known species is Agave americdna (common American aloe), introduced into Europe 1561, and now extensively grown in the warmer parts of this continent as well as in Asia (India in particular). This and other species yield various important products. The Mexicans grew the plant to form dense hedges, and removed the buds for the sugary sap which exudes from the wounds thus made. The sap was collected and fermented and distilled to form pulque, a drink resembling cider. The leaves are used for feeding cattle; the fibres of the leaves (called pita, sisal hemp, or henequen} are formed into thread, cord, and ropes; an extract from the leaves is used as a substitute for soap; slices of the withered flower-stem are used as razor-strops. Research Agave
Amaryllidaceae is a family of monocotyledonous plants which are generally bulbous occasionally with a tall, cylindrical, woody stem (as in Agave); with a highly coloured flower, six stamens and an inferior three-celled ovary. They are native to Europe and most other warm parts of the world.
The order includes the snowdrop, the snow-flake, the daffodil, the belladonna-lily (belonging to the typical genus Amaryllis), the so-called Guernsey-lily (probably a native of Japan), the Brunsvigias, the blood-flowers (Haemanthus) of South Africa, different species of Narcissus, Agave (American aloe), etc. Many are highly prized in gardens and hothouses; the bulbs - of some are strongly poisonous. Research Amaryllidaceae
The narcissus is a genus of hardy bulbous plants, belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae. They have linear or strap-shaped leaves and usually beautiful flowers, either white or yellow, the perianth tubular below and its segments spreading above, the mouth of the perianth-tube being surmounted by a corona. Research Narcissus
The Narcissus Fly (Merodon clavipes) is a two-winged fly whose larva attacks the bulbs of daffodils. It was introduced into northern Europe around 1840. It is about 50 mm in length, much like a bumble bee in form, and more or less black in colour, but often spotted with yellow, white or red. It emerges from the pupal stage usually in May, and lays its eggs in June or July. The larvae eat their way into the bulbs, and only leave them by other holes when they are fully grown and ready to bury themselves in the ground, there to undergo the next metamorphosis. Research Narcissus Fly
Paul Dubois was a French sculptor. He was born in 1829 and died after 1905. He first studied law, but in 1856-58 gave himself up to sculpture under Toussaint at Paris, and then went to Italy, where the sculptors of the early Renaissance, Donatello, Luca Delia Robbia, etc, had a decided influence upon him. Among his works are a St. John, a Narcissus, a Madonna and Child, Eve Awakening to Life, a figure of Song for the opera-honse at Paris, and numerous busts; but his greatest work is the monument of General Lamoriciere in the Cathedral of Nantes, with figures of Military Courage, Charity, Faith, and Meditation, which rank among the best products of French plastic art. He is also distinguished as a painter of portraits. Research Paul Dubois
Sabu (Sabu Dastagir) was an Indian actor. He was born in 1924 at Mysore and died in 1963 of a heartattack. He was 'discovered' by director Robert Flaherty while working in the elephant stables of the Maharajah of Mysore, India and cast in the 1937 film 'Elephant Boy'. After that he acted in other movies about the British Raj in India. His most famoust role was the title role in the 1940 film 'The Thief of Baghdad'. As he grew up his popularity began to wane. His most unusual role as an adult was a small part in the 1947 'Black Narcissus' as an Indian general in the Himalayas. He holds the unique honour of being the first Indian to make it to the Hollywood screen. Research Sabu
In Greek mythology, Echo was a mountain nymph and a servant of Hecate. The daughter of Air and Earth. Because of her love of Narcissus, she pined away until nothing was left of her but her voice. Research Echo
In Greek mythology, Narcissus was a beautiful youth who rejected the love of the nymphEcho and was condemned to fall in love with his own reflection in a pool. He pined away and in the place where he died a flower sprang up that was named after him. Research Narcissus
Abbreviations
Research Agave
