Agaves, or as locals here call them, ‘piteras’, fit so well to Fuerteventura’s landscape that it’s hard to believe they’re not native but were brought here some 500 years ago from Mexico.
They normally reach around ten years of age but only bloom once in their lifetime, which, at the same time sad and romantic, actually leads to their death. The piteras with only the lower, green part, with hard, water-protecting leaves, are still growing, while the ones with the flower that can reach a couple of meters in height are about to spread their seeds and make sure the life goes on, and then dry out. Most piteras also reproduce by underground stolons (the same as strawberries do).
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From the juice of some species, tequila and other sorts of alcoholic beverages are made, but they’re also abundant with cellulosic fibers, which through different processes, become pure cellulose and, later, a kind of silk or rayon thread.
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In the central and northern Fuerteventura, between 1930 and 1940, the plants were cultivated to produce textile fibers to make boat ropes, sacks, and fabrics of big sturdiness, but they were soon replaced by artificial fibers, so the production became obsolete.
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We can still see the beautiful fields of piteras now wildly growing in Fuerteventura’s countryside. One of my favorite piteras fields is close to Lajares (in the below photo).
Dry piteras are also the closest we get to a Christmas tree, so they’re often decorated for some holiday spirit. How do you like the idea?
