English name: Spanish-bayonet.

RUBINA AKHTER and SHAHINA A. GHAZANFAR

Shrubby plant, trunk up to 1 m, stem simple or branched. Leaves 45-75 x 6-7 cm, erect, rigid, apex strongly pungent, dark mossy-green. Margins denticulate or entire. Flowers in large panicles, with usually ascending branches, cream tinged purple. Perianth 5-7.5 cm in diameter, segments 40-60 mm. Fruit fleshy. 7.5-10 cm, black-purple.

Fl. Per.: June.

Type: Described from Jamaica, Vera Cruz.

Distribution: S.E. United States. Naturalized elsewhere.

Naturalized in the lower hills of the Punjab & NWFP regions and often grown as hedges The fibre from the leaves is used for making ropes etc. but not cultivated for commercial purposes.