Do ya get my point, Punk?

Palmer's Agave Fun Facts! - is the largest native agave to the United States - leaves used for fiber for hunting nets, baskets, rope and sandals - lifespan is anywhere from 5-25 years - not 100 years as the nickname "Century Plant" implies; flowers during its last year, produces pups for propagation - flower stalk can be up to 18 feet high, stalks can grow up to 1 ft per day - easily grown by pups or seeds - sharp spines contain steroid compounds, could cause localized swelling and discomfort - there is danger of Palmer's Agave being over-collected for the bootleg mescal industry in Northern Mexico and reduced populations in S.E. Arizona due to development - mescal is Spanish for Agave - mescal pits date back at least 8,000 years - a waxy coating with a powdery surface seals the leaf against evaporation and also reflects up to 75% of the incoming heat - practice CAM photosynthesis - plant depends on bats for cross pollination - flowers smell like rotting meat (an attractive scent to bats), grow on tall stalks and secrete nectar peaking between 8 and 10 pm when bats are the most active - nectar is high in proteins and sugars that most bats need for fuel - have a shallow but extensive root system which harvests moisture from rain, dew and condensation - the waxy coating of the leaves helps to roll the moisture down the leaves to the roots. Excuse me, I'm almost outta breath ... "Everybody's talking at me. I don't hear a word they're saying, Only the echoes of my mind. People stopping staring, I can't see their faces, Only the shadows of their eyes. I'm going where the sun keeps shining, Thru' the pouring rain ..." March 11, 2010