Know your alien invasive plant: Mauritius hemp
Hillcrest Conservancy will produce weekly articles regarding the various alien invasive plant species in the Highway area to help the community identify and eliminate them.
THIS week, Hillcrest Conservancy takes a look at the Mauritius hemp as part of its series of articles on alien invasive plants to help the community to identify and eradicate them from their gardens.
The Mauritius hemp’s scientific hemp is Furcraea foetida, however, it is also known as Cuba hemp, false agave, giant cabuya, giant lily and green aloe.
Description: As the common name implies, this plant resembles the Agave plant. Just like the Agave, this plant has no stem or a very short one.
The leaves are sword-shaped, 1-1.8m long and 10–15cm broad at their widest point, narrowing to 6–7cm wide at the leaf base, and to a sharp spine tip at the apex.
The flowers are greenish to creamy white, 4cm long and strongly scented. They are produced on a large inflorescence up to 12m tall.
Where does this species come from? Originally from the Caribbean and northern South America and was introduced as an ornamental plant with a similar growth form to our indigenous aloes. It is a source of natural fibre.
Where in SA is it a problem? Has now become a problem in the Eastern Cape, KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Western Cape.
What is its invasive status in South Africa? It is a NEMBA Category 1a plant and must be removed to avoid prosecution.
Why is it a problem? This species has chosen an interesting way of propagating its self. Thousands of small plants are formed on the branches of the flower clusters. As the flower matures the plantlets fall off around the parent plant where they then form dense stands. Fruit is hardly ever seen.
This plant is a particular problem along coastal areas but will also happily move inland wherever it can find a protective gully or forest margin.
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