Some new observations in Furcraea foetida

Abstract

Furcraea foetida reproduces vegetatively by producing bulbils on the inflorescence axis and sexually by producing flowers on the terminal panicles. In the present study, it was observed that the bulbils gives rise to secondary inflorescence (bulbiferous inflorescence), which gives rise to both flowers and secondary bulbils. The production of flowers from bulbils is very unusual phenomenon and a new observation. Thus, it is interesting that vegetatively reproducing organs (bulbils) giving rise to sexually reproducing organs (flowers) directly on the mother plants in F. foetida.