Post #1105665

2026-04-12 04:54 UTC

Bizarre conversation last night after someone talked about how sisal fibers come from agave and several family members point blank refused to believe it. My gardener mom and I just running up against this wall of “syrup is not rope” until we finally worked out they hadn’t understood Agave is the name of a genus of plants. Growing up with someone who grows things, it just never occurs to me people don’t know about the huge variety of plants and the umpteen things people have used them to make, besides beauty and food.

Replies (5)

@CommonMugwort@social.coop 2026-04-12 05:06

This was all compounded by the way they refused to understand that Αθάνατος (it means immortal and is the common Greek name - like century plant in English - for the particular agave species that is widely naturalised here) is a. not a native plant and b. not hugely different from its cousins that are cultivated for their fiber (sisal etc) and their sap (syrup, tequila).

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@clew@ecoevo.social 2026-04-12 05:06

Although… they know you get both nuts and lumber from walnuts, right? And probably that hemp can give you marijuana and fiber? @CommonMugwort@social.coop

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@Coho@mountains.social 2026-04-12 05:56

@CommonMugwort@social.coop I did not know sisal comes from agave. It's such a handy and strong plant fiber. I've used it making baskets. I love natural fibers. Now I'm wondering what plant family gives us jute, and burlap.🤔 🧐I recently cut down a dead palm tree and harvested the coir. Coir is so cool it's like a loose weave fabric,

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@Anke@social.scribblers.club 2026-04-12 09:17

@CommonMugwort@social.coop The first other example that came to my mind was linen and lineseed oil...

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@Loki_Laufeyiarson@mastodon.social 2026-04-12 09:41

@CommonMugwort@social.coop didn't know sisal was made from agave. Good knowledge. Thank you.

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