The genus Furcraea - Succulentes

Often mistaken for agaves — and frequently sold under the same common name “century plant” — the genus Furcraea is a distinct and fascinating group of large, rosette-forming agavoids from tropical America. Furcraeas share the dramatic silhouette and monocarpic life strategy of their agave cousins but differ in critical botanical details and, above all, in their ecological preferences: while agaves are predominantly plants of arid lands, most furcraeas thrive in warmer, more humid environments.

Several species have been cultivated for centuries as fibre crops — the source of fique, cabuya and Mauritius hemp — and are now widely naturalised across the tropical world. As ornamental plants, their bold architecture and variegated cultivars have earned them a growing following among gardeners in subtropical, Mediterranean and warm-temperate regions. This page provides a thorough overview of the genus and serves as a gateway to the individual species profiles available on succulentes.net.

Taxonomy and botanical position

Furcraea Vent. belongs to the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae, under the classification system adopted by the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG IV, 2016). Unlike Nolina, Dasylirion and Beaucarnea, which belong to the subfamily Nolinoideae (the nolinoid clade), Furcraea sits squarely within the agavoid lineage — the same subfamily that contains Agave, Yucca, Beschorneria, Hesperaloe and Manfreda (now included in Agave).

The genus was described by the French botanist Étienne Pierre Ventenat in 1793, who named it in honour of Antoine François de Fourcroy, a prominent French chemist. The original spelling Fourcroya has been superseded by the conserved form Furcraea, which is the standard in all modern nomenclatural databases.

Like its close relative Agave, Furcraea was historically placed in the Agavaceae, and before that in the broadly conceived Liliaceae or Amaryllidaceae. Its position within the Agavoideae is well supported by molecular phylogenetic studies. The genus is sister to or closely related to Beschorneria, with which it shares several features including pendulous or campanulate flowers — a key difference from the tubular, erect flowers of Agave.

How many species?

The genus contains approximately 25 accepted species according to García-Mendoza (2000), the leading authority on the taxonomy of Mexican furcraeas. Plants of the World Online (Kew) currently lists a broadly similar number, though species limits remain debated for several poorly known taxa. Eleven species are endemic to Mexico; the remainder are distributed across the Caribbean, Central America and northern South America (Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia). The taxonomy of the genus is complicated by widespread historical cultivation and naturalisation, which have blurred the boundaries of native ranges for several species.

Nomenclatural pitfalls: names that cause confusion

Few plant genera cause as much nomenclatural confusion in the horticultural trade as Furcraea. Three problems are especially persistent and deserve explicit clarification.

The Furcraea longaeva / Furcraea parmentieri / Furcraea bedinghausii tangle. The plant most gardeners know as Furcraea bedinghausii — the spectacular high-altitude Mexican species widely grown at Sintra (Portugal), Tresco (UK) and in coastal California — is correctly named Furcraea parmentieri (Roezl ex Ortgies) García-Mend. following the revision by García-Mendoza (2000). Furcraea bedinghausii K.Koch is a synonym. Making matters worse, the RHS explicitly notes that the name Furcraea longaeva is “misapplied” to this species in the trade: many plants sold as Furcraea longaeva are in fact Furcraea parmentieri. The true Furcraea longaeva Karw. & Zucc. is a distinct species from Oaxaca and Puebla, treated separately by POWO. Both are arborescent, montane furcraeas, which explains the persistent confusion — but they differ in leaf morphology, altitude preference and geographic range. In this guide, and throughout succulentes.net, we follow POWO and treat them as separate species.

The Furcraea selloa / Furcraea selloana orthography. Smith (2020) argued that the correct Latinisation of the epithet commemorating Hermann Sello should be selloana, not selloa — yielding Furcraea selloana K.Koch as the correct name. POWO currently retains Furcraea selloa. We follow POWO for consistency but note the ongoing debate. Additionally, Furcraea lindenii Jacobi is a synonym of Furcraea selloa.

Furcraea gigantea = Furcraea foetida. The name Furcraea gigantea Vent. is a widely used synonym for Furcraea foetida (L.) Haw. The variegated cultivar most commonly grown as a container ornamental worldwide is correctly Furcraea foetida ‘Mediopicta’, not Furcraea gigantea ‘Striata’ as it sometimes appears in the trade.

Geographic range and natural habitats

Furcraea is native to tropical America, with a distribution extending from Mexico through the Caribbean islands, Central America and into northern South America as far south as Bolivia. The centre of species diversity lies in Mexico (particularly Oaxaca, Puebla and the southern highlands) and in the northern Andes of Colombia and Ecuador.

Unlike the predominantly arid-zone Agave, most furcraeas occupy habitats with significantly more moisture:

Tropical dry deciduous forests — seasonally arid lowlands and foothills with a well-defined wet season; the classic habitat for several Mexican species (Furcraea longaeva, Furcraea pubescens, Furcraea macdougallii).
Montane pine-oak woodlands and volcanic slopes — middle to high elevations (1,500–3,300 m) with cool nights and significant precipitation or fog. Furcraea parmentieri reaches 3,000–3,300 m on volcanic slopes in central Mexico — making it the highest-altitude furcraea and the most cold-tolerant.
Tropical wet forests and forest margins — more humid environments than most agaves tolerate (Furcraea cabuya, Furcraea samalana).
Caribbean dry scrub and coastal vegetation — exposed, seasonally dry habitats on calcareous substrates (Furcraea tuberosa, Furcraea hexapetala).
Andean valleys and inter-Andean slopes — warm, seasonally dry valleys at moderate elevations in Colombia, Ecuador and Peru (Furcraea andina, Furcraea foetida).

Several species — most notably Furcraea foetida — have been carried around the tropical world by human cultivation and are now widely naturalised in Africa, India, South-East Asia, Macaronesia (Canary Islands, Madeira), Australia, Florida and numerous oceanic islands. In some regions, particularly on islands, naturalised furcraeas can become invasive.

Morphology: understanding furcraea architecture

Rosette and stem

Furcraeas form large to very large rosettes of numerous sword-shaped leaves. Mature rosettes can reach 2–4 m in diameter in the largest species, rivalling the biggest agaves in sheer visual impact. Many species remain stemless or develop only a short stem for much of their life, resembling gigantic ground-hugging rosettes. Others — Furcraea macdougallii, Furcraea longaeva, Furcraea parmentieri, Furcraea selloa — develop a distinct trunk that may reach 3–9 m (occasionally higher in Furcraea macdougallii), creating an imposing tree-like silhouette reminiscent of a palm or a tree fern.

Leaves

Furcraea leaves are semi-succulent, sword-shaped, and typically 1–2 m long in mature specimens. They are generally thinner and more flexible than agave leaves — a useful distinguishing feature in the garden. Leaf colour is usually deep green to grey-green, though some species (Furcraea macdougallii) have a distinctive blue-green or glaucous tone. Leaf surfaces can be smooth or rough (almost “sharkskin-like” in Furcraea macdougallii).

Marginal armature varies considerably across the genus: some species have smooth, unarmed leaf margins (Furcraea foetida), while others bear sharp marginal teeth that can rival those of the most aggressive agaves (Furcraea selloa, Furcraea tuberosa). A terminal spine is present in some species but is generally less formidable than in Agave.

The variegated cultivars of several species are among the most popular ornamental forms. Furcraea foetida ‘Mediopicta’, with a broad cream-yellow central stripe, and Furcraea selloa ‘Marginata’, with creamy-white leaf margins, are widely grown and commercially important.

Inflorescence, flowers and bulbils

Like agaves, furcraeas are monocarpic: each rosette flowers only once and then dies. The inflorescence is a towering, pyramidal panicle that may reach 4–13 m in height — Furcraea longaeva holds the record for one of the tallest inflorescences ever measured on any plant, at approximately 13 metres. This spectacular event transforms the plant into a botanical skyscraper for several months. The individual flowers are campanulate (bell-shaped) to broadly tubular, white to greenish-white, pendulous and often fragrant, especially at night. This flower shape is the most reliable botanical character distinguishing Furcraea from Agave, whose flowers are narrowly tubular and erect.

A key feature of furcraea reproduction is the prolific production of bulbils (small plantlets) on the inflorescence. Many species, including Furcraea foetida, Furcraea selloa, Furcraea parmentieri and Furcraea tuberosa, produce hundreds or even thousands of bulbils along the flowering stalk. These bulbils detach and fall to the ground, where they root and establish new plants — an extremely efficient vegetative propagation mechanism that partly explains the ease with which furcraeas have naturalised across the tropics.

The time from germination or planting to flowering varies from about 8–10 years in fast-growing tropical conditions to 20–40 years or more in cooler or less favourable environments.

Furcraea and the fibre economy: fique, cabuya and Mauritius hemp

Furcraeas have been exploited for their leaf fibres for millennia. Long before European contact, indigenous peoples of Mesoamerica and the Andes extracted strong, durable fibres from furcraea leaves to produce rope, cordage, hammocks, bags and textiles. Several fibre types are recognised by their regional names:

Fique (also cabuya, pita, penca) — produced primarily from Furcraea andina and Furcraea cabuya in Colombia, Ecuador and other Andean countries. Fique is considered Colombia’s national fibre and remains economically important for sacking, packaging, handicrafts and, increasingly, eco-friendly alternatives to synthetic materials.
Mauritius hemp — produced from Furcraea foetida, originally introduced to the island of Mauritius by Dutch colonists in the 17th century and subsequently grown commercially in East Africa, India and Sri Lanka.

The fibre is extracted by retting (soaking and scraping) the leaves, a process broadly analogous to sisal production from Agave sisalana. Furcraea fibres are strong, resistant to salt water and biodegradable — qualities that maintain their relevance even in an era of synthetic alternatives.

Cultivation in subtropical, Mediterranean and warm-temperate climates

Furcraeas are outstanding architectural plants for warm gardens worldwide. Their requirements differ somewhat from those of agaves and yuccas, reflecting their generally more tropical origins and tolerance of higher moisture levels.

Light requirements

Most furcraeas perform best in full sun to partial shade. Unlike agaves, which almost universally demand full sun, many furcraeas tolerate — and in hot climates may prefer — light afternoon shade. In hot subtropical regions (Florida, coastal Queensland, Central America), some shade reduces leaf scorch and maintains better leaf colour. In Mediterranean and warm-temperate zones (coastal Provence, coastal California, coastal Australia), full sun is usually best.

Soil and drainage

Good drainage is important but furcraeas are significantly more tolerant of moisture than agaves, yuccas or dasylirions. Many species grow naturally in seasonally wet environments and accept garden soils that would be too moist for most agaves. That said, waterlogged conditions in winter — especially combined with cold — remain the main cause of failure. A well-structured garden soil with reasonable drainage suits most species; the extremely mineral substrates required for desert agaves are unnecessary.

Watering

Furcraeas are moderately drought-tolerant once established but grow faster and look better with regular watering during the growing season, especially in hot, dry climates. This sets them apart from agaves, which typically prefer to go bone-dry between waterings. In tropical and subtropical gardens with summer rainfall, supplementary irrigation is rarely needed. In Mediterranean climates with dry summers, occasional deep watering improves growth and leaf quality.

Cold hardiness

As predominantly tropical plants, furcraeas are significantly less cold-hardy than agaves, yuccas, nolinas or dasylirions. Most species tolerate only light, brief frost. The critical exception is Furcraea parmentieri, which grows at elevations above 3,000 m in central Mexico and tolerates meaningful frost — though even this species cannot match the extreme cold tolerance of highland agaves like Agave parryi or Agave utahensis.

The following table provides approximate minimum temperatures for the most commonly cultivated species. Values are based on published horticultural sources, botanical garden records and reports from collector forums. As always with succulents, dry soil dramatically improves frost survival, while wet soil combined with cold is the most common cause of death.

Species	Approx. min. temperature	USDA zone	Notes
Furcraea parmentieri	−8 to −12 °C	8a–8b	The hardiest species by a significant margin. Native to volcanic slopes at 2,500–3,300 m in central Mexico. Widely naturalised in Sintra (Portugal), Tresco (UK) and Galicia (Spain). The Palm Centre (UK) advises winter protection below −5 °C. Sold as Furcraea bedinghausii in the older trade; often mislabelled as Furcraea longaeva.
Furcraea longaeva	−6 to −8 °C	8b–9a	True species (not the trade misapplication). Montane origin in Oaxaca and Puebla (Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley); trunking. Holds the record for one of the tallest inflorescences (≈ 13 m). Dry-winter tolerance probably similar to Furcraea parmentieri but less data available from gardens.
Furcraea macdougallii	−3 to −6 °C	9a–9b	Spectacular tree-forming species to 7–9 m. Blue-green, rough-textured leaves. IUCN: Extinct in the Wild (EW). All cultivated material likely from a single clone. Flowered at Kew (2020) and UCLA (2011–12).
Furcraea selloa	−3 to −5 °C	9a–9b	Trunking species from Colombia to Ecuador. Armed leaf margins. The marginate form ‘Marginata’ is widely cultivated. Naturalised in South Africa.
Furcraea quicheensis	−3 to −5 °C	9a–9b	Guatemala highlands. Probably among the hardier species based on altitude of origin (1,500–2,500 m), but limited garden data.
Furcraea foetida	−2 to −4 °C	9b–10a	The most widely cultivated species. Mauritius hemp. Smooth-margined leaves. Pantropical weed. ‘Mediopicta’ (variegated) is less hardy than the green type. Reportedly killed at −8 °C (10 °F) during sustained cold in southern California (Dave’s Garden).
Furcraea hexapetala	−2 to −3 °C	9b–10a	Cuban species. Armed leaves. Limited cold data.
Furcraea tuberosa	−2 to −3 °C	9b–10a	Caribbean species. Armed leaves; tuberous roots. Tolerates coastal exposure and poor soil. Naturalised in South Africa (Mpumalanga).
Furcraea pubescens	−1 to −3 °C	10a	Oaxaca. Poorly documented in cultivation.
Furcraea cabuya	0 to −2 °C	10a–10b	The fique plant. Southeastern Mexico to Venezuela. Fibre crop. Essentially frost-free.
Furcraea andina	0 to −2 °C	10a–10b	Andean fibre plant (Ecuador to Bolivia). Tolerates cool montane conditions but not hard frost.
Furcraea guerrerensis	Unknown	Unknown	Guerrero, Mexico. Poorly known; virtually no cultivation data.
Furcraea niquivilensis	Unknown	Unknown	Mexico. Extremely poorly documented; known primarily from herbarium specimens.
Furcraea samalana	0 to −1 °C	10b	Southeastern Mexico to El Salvador. Wet tropical biome. No meaningful frost tolerance expected.

Where furcraeas thrive outdoors

Subtropical climates — Florida, the Gulf Coast, coastal Queensland, New South Wales, the Canary Islands, Madeira, coastal South Africa, South-East Asia. This is where furcraeas are at their most exuberant, growing fast and flowering reliably.
Mediterranean climates — coastal Provence, coastal Italy, coastal California, central Chile, the Western Cape. The hardier species (Furcraea parmentieri, Furcraea longaeva, Furcraea macdougallii, Furcraea selloa) can be grown permanently in the ground in sheltered positions with good drainage. Variegated cultivars of Furcraea foetida are widely used as container specimens moved indoors for winter.
Warm-temperate climates with mild winters — southwestern UK, northwestern Iberia, Brittany. Furcraea parmentieri is naturalised in Sintra (Portugal) and has been grown outdoors at Tresco Abbey Gardens since 1894. It is the only species suitable for borderline climates with regular but mild frost.
Tropical climates — the full range of species thrives. Furcraeas are far more at home in humid tropical conditions than most agaves, making them an excellent alternative for gardeners seeking agave-like architecture in monsoon or equatorial climates.

Container culture

In regions too cold for year-round outdoor cultivation, furcraeas make excellent container plants for sunny terraces, patios and conservatories. Use a well-draining substrate, water regularly in summer and reduce watering in winter. Overwinter in a frost-free but cool and bright location (a cold greenhouse, conservatory or unheated room with good light is ideal). Variegated cultivars of Furcraea foetida are particularly well suited to container culture and are widely available in the nursery trade.

Propagation

Bulbils. By far the easiest and most prolific method. When a furcraea flowers, the inflorescence typically produces hundreds of bulbils, which can be collected as they begin to develop roots and potted individually. Bulbils root readily in any well-drained substrate and grow quickly in warm conditions. This is the primary propagation method used by nurseries and explains the rapid spread of naturalised populations.

Offsets. Some species produce basal offsets (pups) around the mother plant, particularly as it approaches flowering. These can be separated and replanted.

Seed. Furcraea seeds germinate at 22–28 °C within a few weeks. However, seed production requires cross-pollination between genetically distinct individuals — a critical problem for species like Furcraea macdougallii, which may exist in cultivation as a single clone, making viable seed set impossible without genetically diverse stock.

Pests and diseases

Root and crown rot caused by Phytophthora, Fusarium and Pythium species is the most serious threat, particularly in cool, wet conditions. Prevention through good drainage and appropriate watering is essential.

Agave snout weevil (Scyphophorus acupunctatus) attacks furcraeas as well as agaves, boring into the heart of the rosette. It is a significant problem in Mediterranean and subtropical regions where both genera are grown. Symptoms include sudden wilting of the crown, a fermentation odour and the presence of white grubs at the leaf bases.

Scale insects and mealybugs may colonise leaf bases, especially on container-grown or stressed plants. The RHS notes that scale insects are a particular concern for furcraeas grown under glass.

Leaf spot fungi can disfigure foliage in humid conditions but are rarely life-threatening.

Snails and slugs can damage young plants and bulbils, especially in humid climates. Dave’s Garden contributors note that Furcraea foetida ‘Mediopicta’ appears more susceptible to snail damage than other furcraeas.

Invasiveness. In some tropical regions, particularly on oceanic islands, furcraeas (especially Furcraea foetida) can become invasive weeds, outcompeting native vegetation. Gardeners in sensitive ecological areas should be aware of local regulations and avoid planting species known to naturalise.

Distinguishing Furcraea from Agave

The confusion between these two genera is universal — even experienced gardeners struggle to tell them apart in the vegetative state. The most reliable differences are:

Flowers: Furcraea flowers are campanulate (bell-shaped), pendulous and broadly tubular; Agave flowers are narrowly tubular, erect and typically borne on upward-facing lateral branches.
Bulbils: most furcraeas produce abundant bulbils on the inflorescence; most agaves do not (though a few species, notably Agave vivipara and some forms of Agave angustifolia, are exceptions).
Leaf texture: furcraea leaves tend to be thinner, more flexible and less succulent than agave leaves of comparable size.
Terminal spine: generally smaller and less dangerous in Furcraea than in Agave.
Habitat preference: furcraeas tolerate — and often prefer — more moisture than agaves.

In the vegetative state, with no flowers to examine, identification can be challenging. Leaf texture and flexibility are the most useful clues for gardeners.

Species list

The following list includes the accepted species most commonly cited in the literature and in cultivation. Species are arranged geographically with annotations reflecting the current state of knowledge. Documentation level is indicated for each species: ★★★ = well-documented in cultivation with cold-hardiness data from gardens; ★★ = moderately documented; ★ = poorly known, data primarily from herbarium specimens and limited field observations.

Mexican species

Furcraea guerrerensis ★ — Guerrero. Poorly known; virtually no cultivation data. Included in García-Mendoza’s revision but rarely encountered in collections.
Furcraea longaeva ★★★ — Puebla, Oaxaca, Guerrero (Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley). The true Furcraea longaeva (not the trade misapplication — see nomenclatural pitfalls above) is an arborescent species of montane dry forests. Develops a trunk to 4–6 m. Holds the record for one of the tallest plant inflorescences ever recorded (≈ 13 m). Hardy to approximately −6 to −8 °C with dry soil.
Furcraea macdougallii ★★★ — Oaxaca (Yautepec district). The largest furcraea — trunks to 7–9 m. Blue-green, rough-textured (“sharkskin”) leaves held rigidly upright. IUCN: Extinct in the Wild (EW). Last seen in the wild in the 1960s; habitat destroyed for mezcal agave plantations. All cultivated material worldwide probably derives from a single clone (HBG 18137). Flowered at Kew (2020, published in Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, Plate 1053) and at the UCLA Botanical Garden (2011–12, reaching approximately 17 m total height). Hardy to −3 to −6 °C.
Furcraea niquivilensis ★ — Mexico. Extremely poorly documented; known primarily from herbarium specimens. No cultivation data available.
Furcraea parmentieri ★★★ — Central Mexico (volcanic slopes, 2,500–3,300 m). Syn. Furcraea bedinghausii; widely mislabelled as Furcraea longaeva in the trade. The hardiest furcraea, tolerating −8 to −12 °C with dry soil. Widely naturalised in Sintra (Portugal), where it has been cultivated since the mid-19th century. Grown outdoors at Tresco Abbey Gardens (UK) since 1894. Recently recorded as naturalised in Galicia, northwestern Iberia — the first record for the Iberian Peninsula (González-Martínez, 2016). Develops a trunk to 5 m. Spectacular pyramidal inflorescence producing thousands of bulbils.
Furcraea pubescens ★★ — Oaxaca. Dry tropical biome. Rarely cultivated outside Mexico. Limited data suggests frost tolerance around −1 to −3 °C.
Furcraea quicheensis ★★ — Mexico to Guatemala (highlands, 1,500–2,500 m). Probably among the hardier species based on altitude of origin. Forum reports suggest cold tolerance in the range of −3 to −5 °C, but garden data remains scarce.
Furcraea samalana ★ — Southeastern Mexico to El Salvador. Wet tropical biome. Poorly known in cultivation. No meaningful frost tolerance expected.

Caribbean species

Furcraea hexapetala ★★ — Cuba. Armed leaves. Can be confused with Furcraea tuberosa. Hardy to approximately −2 to −3 °C. Limited garden data.
Furcraea tuberosa ★★ — Widespread across the Caribbean (Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola, Puerto Rico, Lesser Antilles). Armed leaves; tuberous roots — a distinctive morphological feature. Tolerates coastal exposure. Naturalised in Mpumalanga, South Africa. Hardy to approximately −2 to −3 °C.

Central and South American species

Furcraea andina ★★ — Ecuador to Bolivia. The Andean fique plant. Important fibre crop. Tolerates cool montane conditions but not hard frost: approximately 0 to −2 °C.
Furcraea cabuya ★★ — Southeastern Mexico to Venezuela. Fibre crop (the original “cabuya”). Wet tropical biome. Essentially frost-free: 0 to −2 °C.
Furcraea foetida ★★★ — Costa Rica to northern South America and southern Caribbean. Syn. Furcraea gigantea. The most widely cultivated species worldwide. Mauritius hemp. Smooth, unarmed leaf margins. Widely naturalised across the tropics, subtropics and Macaronesia. The variegated form ‘Mediopicta’ is the most commonly grown ornamental furcraea worldwide — and also slightly less cold-hardy than the green type. Hardy to −2 to −4 °C; reportedly killed at −8 °C (10 °F) during sustained cold in southern California.
Furcraea selloa ★★★ — Colombia to Ecuador. Syn. Furcraea lindenii. Develops a trunk to 3 m. Heavily armed leaf margins. The marginate form ‘Marginata’ is widely cultivated and naturalised in parts of South Africa. Hardy to −3 to −5 °C.

Conservation status

While several furcraea species are widespread and unthreatened, a few face critical conservation pressures. Furcraea macdougallii is classified as Extinct in the Wild (EW) by the IUCN — it has not been seen at its type locality in Oaxaca since the 1960s, and the area where it grew has been heavily disturbed for mezcal agave plantations. All cultivated material worldwide is believed to derive from a single clone, raising serious concerns about the long-term viability of the species. The probable auto-incompatibility of the species means that viable seed cannot be produced from genetically identical individuals — a fundamental obstacle to any reintroduction programme. Understanding the genetics and pollination biology of surviving garden plants is an urgent conservation priority.

Other narrow Mexican endemics — including Furcraea guerrerensis, Furcraea niquivilensis and Furcraea pubescens — may also be at risk from habitat destruction, but detailed assessments are lacking for most species.

On the other hand, Furcraea foetida and to a lesser extent Furcraea selloa and Furcraea tuberosa have become invasive in parts of the tropics, particularly on islands. Responsible gardeners should be aware of local biosecurity regulations and avoid planting potentially invasive species in sensitive environments.

Authority websites and online databases

Plants of the World Online (POWO) — Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The primary international reference for accepted plant names, synonymy and geographic distribution.
Genus page: https://powo.science.kew.org/…

World Flora Online (WFO)

A collaborative global plant database. Useful for cross-checking nomenclatural updates.
Genus page: https://www.worldfloraonline.org/…

Tropicos — Missouri Botanical Garden

Outstanding resource for original publication references, basionyms, synonymy and herbarium specimen data.
Genus page: https://legacy.tropicos.org/Name/40018772

iNaturalist

Citizen-science platform with georeferenced furcraea observations worldwide. Invaluable for seeing species in habitat and tracking naturalised populations.
Genus page: https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/56767-Furcraea

IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

Provides conservation status assessments, including the critical assessment of Furcraea macdougallii as Extinct in the Wild.
Website: https://www.iucnredlist.org

Bibliography

García-Mendoza, A.J. (2000). Revisión taxonómica de las especies arborescentes de Furcraea (Agavaceae) en México y Guatemala. Boletín de la Sociedad Botánica de México, 66, 113–129.

García-Mendoza, A.J. (2011). Agavaceae. Flora del Valle de Tehuacán-Cuicatlán, 88, 1–95. Instituto de Biología, UNAM.

González-Martínez, X.I. (2016). Furcraea parmentieri (Roezl ex Ortgies) García-Mend.: una nueva agavácea naturalizada para la Península Ibérica. Botanica Complutensis, 40, 131–134.

Rees, A. (2023). 1053. Furcraea macdougallii Matuda: Asparagaceae. Curtis’s Botanical Magazine, 40(1), 25–34.

Smith, G.F. (2020). Furcraea selloana K.Koch is the Correct Orthography of the Species Name that Commemorates Hermann Sello in Furcraea Vent. (Asparagaceae subfam. Agavoideae / Agavaceae). [Published in ResearchGate.]

Verloove, F. et al. (2019). A synopsis of feral Agave and Furcraea (Agavaceae, Asparagaceae s.lat.) in the Canary Islands (Spain). Plant Ecology and Evolution, 152, 470–498.

Eggli, U. (ed.) (2001). Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons. Springer-Verlag.

Irish, M. & Irish, G. (2000). Agaves, Yuccas, and Related Plants: A Gardener’s Guide. Timber Press.

Martínez Salas, E., Samain, M.-S. & Fuentes, A.C.D. (2020). Furcraea macdougallii. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T136808736A137376234.

Albarrán, M., Silva-Montellano, A. & Valverde, T. (2017). Reproductive biology of the threatened species Furcraea parmentieri (Asparagaceae). Botanical Sciences, 95(3), 409–422.