{"page":"\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/resources-c03aa079.css\" /\u003e\n\u003clink rel=\"stylesheet\" href=\"https://lessonplanet.com/assets/packs/css/lp_boclips_stylesheets-517835be.css\" media=\"all\" /\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-title='Death knell sounds for plant that took 80 years to flower' data-url='/boclips/videos/5c54bd54d8eafeecae133531' data-video-url='/boclips/videos/5c54bd54d8eafeecae133531' id='bo_player_modal'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='boclips-resource-page modal-dialog panel-container'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='react-notifications-root'\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-header'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-type'\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-regular fa-circle-play'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nVideo\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ch1 class='rp-title' id='video-title'\u003e\nDeath knell sounds for plant that took 80 years to flower\n\u003c/h1\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-actions'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='mr-1'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"btn btn-success\" data-posthog-event=\"Signup: LP Signup Activity\" data-posthog-location=\"body_link_boclips\" data-remote=\"true\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cspan\u003eGet Free Access\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e for 10 Days\u003c/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e!\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/a\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-body'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-info'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Hide resource details' class='rp-hide-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u0026times;\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Expand resource details' class='rp-expand-info fai fa-solid fa-up-right-and-down-left-from-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003ci aria-label='Compress resource details' class='rp-compress-info fai fa-solid fa-down-left-and-up-right-to-center' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-rating'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='resource-pool'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-label'\u003ePublisher:\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='pool-name'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='text'\u003e\u003ca data-publisher-id=\"30356011\" href=\"/search?publisher_ids%5B%5D=30356011\"\u003eCurated Video\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-description'\u003e\n\u003cspan class='short-description'\u003eIt's the end of the road for an 80 year old plant that flowers only once in its lifetime. An Agave plant at a University of Michigan conservatory will now start to die as its flowering process comes to an end. It's a once in a lifetime...\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003cspan class='full-description hide'\u003eIt's the end of the road for an 80 year old plant that flowers only once in its lifetime. \u003cbr/\u003eAn Agave plant at a University of Michigan conservatory will now start to die as its flowering process comes to an end. \u003cbr/\u003eIt's a once in a lifetime event for this American Agave plant.. taking 80 years to produce its first flowers. \u003cbr/\u003eThis plant has been alive since 1934 and it has drawn big crowds to the Matthaei Botanical Gardens in Michigan.\u003cbr/\u003eHorticulture Manager Mike Palmer says: \"American agave' is one of its common names. 'Century plant' is another. 'Century plant' refers to the number of years it takes to flower. And you know humans tend to over-exaggerate, so they coined 'century plant.'\"\u003cbr/\u003eWhile the flowering has drawn many happy visitors, it also a time of sadness because the death knell is coming.  \u003cbr/\u003e\"Once it sets seeds, the whole plant dies. So, it will flower, set seeds and then the base will start shriveling. It will be a long process. It won't die quickly,\" says Palmer. \u003cbr/\u003eThe Agave Americana is native to Mexico and the American Southwest and typically lives 10 to 25 years in the wild before blooming a single time then dying.\u003cbr/\u003eThis plant began sprouting up at a pace of 6 inches a day in the spring and now stands at close to 28 feet or 8.5 metres. \u003cbr/\u003ePalmer says: \"April 22, I had one of our volunteers, who is a member of the Michigan Cactus Succulent Society, said: 'Did you see that the agave is sending out a flower stalk?' And I went, 'Whaaaaat?!?'\" \u003cbr/\u003eThe flowering process is due to end in mid August and it is then expected to produce \"pups,\" or genetic clones that look the same as the parent plant, from which Matthaei officials can propagate the species.\u003cbr/\u003ePalmer says it's a mystery why this particular plant has lived for so long and that's added to the interest the plant is generating: \"The height of it; the sheer mammoth flower stalk; the age, that it's 80 years old; and then it dies. It captures people's imagination, I think.\"\u003cbr/\u003eLydia Cavena decided to visit the Botanical Gardens with her family because the plant was nearly the same age as her father. \u003cbr/\u003e\"So, I thought it would be fun to see a plant that they knew was a little bit older than him (her father), and he could see that it was blooming for the first time and the only time in its life,\" she says.\u003cbr/\u003eThe plant still looks healthy after flowering but Mike Palmer says there are signs it's on its way out:  \"The plant is getting tired from all this effort. One is that the leaves at the base are getting wrinkles in them. And also the leaves in general are starting to droop.\"\u003cbr/\u003eWhile many know agave as the source of tequila, that particular beverage is made from the tequila agave (Agave tequilana). The American agave is used to make a similar alcoholic drink called mezcal. \u003cbr/\u003eAfter waiting 80 years for the flowers, many have been disappointed by how they smell. \u003cbr/\u003e\"It has a different type of a scent. To me, it smells like something burnt in the toaster. But, it's also been described as overcooked rice,\" says Palmer. \u003cbr/\u003eAP Television\u003cbr/\u003eAnn Arbor, Michigan - July 14, 2014\u003cbr/\u003e1. Mid of the agave\u003cbr/\u003e2. Mid of a woman taking a photo of an American agave (uh-GAR'-vay) plant at the University of Michigan's Matthaei (MATH'-eye) Botanical Gardens\u003cbr/\u003e3. Close of the visitor taking a photo of the agave\u003cbr/\u003eAP Television\u003cbr/\u003eAnn Arbor, Michigan - June 4, 2014\u003cbr/\u003e4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mike Palmer, Horticulture Manager, Matthaei Botanical Gardens: \"American agave' is one of its common names. 'Century plant' is another. 'Century plant' refers to the number of years it takes to flower. And you know humans tend to over-exaggerate, so they coined 'century plant.'\"\u003cbr/\u003e5. Close of a twirling card hanging from the agave that reads: \"Century Plant\"\u003cbr/\u003eAP Television\u003cbr/\u003eAnn Arbor, Michigan - July 14, 2014\u003cbr/\u003e6. Mid of a visitor looking at the agave\u003cbr/\u003eAP Television\u003cbr/\u003eAnn Arbor, Michigan - June 4, 2014\u003cbr/\u003e7. Close of the agave's roots\u003cbr/\u003e8. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mike Palmer, Horticulture Manager, Matthaei Botanical Gardens: \"Once it sets seeds, the whole plant dies. So, it will flower, set seeds and then the base will start shriveling. It will be a long process. It won't die quickly.\"\u003cbr/\u003eAP Television\u003cbr/\u003eAnn Arbor, Michigan - July 14, 2014\u003cbr/\u003e9. Mid of a visitor holding his phone upward to take a photo of the agave\u003cbr/\u003e10. Wide of the agave\u003cbr/\u003eAP Television\u003cbr/\u003eAnn Arbor, Michigan - June 4, 2014\u003cbr/\u003e11. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mike Palmer, Horticulture Manager, Matthaei Botanical Gardens: \"April 22, I had one of our volunteers, who is a member of the Michigan Cactus Succulent Society, said: 'Did you see that the agave is sending out a flower stalk?' And I went, 'Whaaaaat?!?'\" \u003cbr/\u003eAP Television\u003cbr/\u003eAnn Arbor, Michigan - July 14, 2014\u003cbr/\u003e12. MS of the agave as seen from below\u003cbr/\u003e13. CS of the agave's flowers\u003cbr/\u003e14. MS of Lydia Cadena taking a photo of her father, Manuel Cadena, in front of the agave\u003cbr/\u003eAP Television\u003cbr/\u003eAnn Arbor, Michigan - June 4, 2014\u003cbr/\u003e15. SOUNDBITE: (English) Mike Palmer,  Horticulture Manager, Matthaei Botanical Gardens: \"The height of it; the sheer mammoth flower stalk; the age, that it's 80 years old; and then it dies. It captures people's imagination, I think.\"\u003cbr/\u003eAP Television\u003cbr/\u003eAnn Arbor, Michigan - July 14, 2014\u003cbr/\u003e16. MS of people gathering to check out the agave\u003cbr/\u003e17. MS of the agave sticking through the conservatory's roof and swaying in the outside wind\u003cbr/\u003e18. MS of the Cadenas talking about the agave\u003cbr/\u003e19. SOUNDBITE: (English) Lydia Cavena, VoxPop: \"So, I thought it would be fun to see a plant that they knew was a little bit older than him (her father), and he could see that it was blooming for the first time _ and the only time _ in its life.\"\u003cbr/\u003e20. MS of a visitor taking a photo of the agave while another visitor reads about the plant\u003cbr/\u003e21. MS of the agave as seen from below\u003cbr/\u003e22. CS of some of the agave's flowers\u003cbr/\u003e23. MS of Mike Palmer answering a visitor's questions about the agave\u003cbr/\u003e24. SOUNDBITE (English): Super: Mike Palmer,  Horticulture Manager, Matthaei Botanical Gardens: \"The plant is getting tired from all this effort. One is that the leaves at the base are getting wrinkles in them. And also the leaves in general are starting to droop.\"\u003cbr/\u003e25. CS of wrinkles in one of the agave's leaves\u003cbr/\u003e26. WS of the agave as seen from below\u003cbr/\u003e27. MS of the Matthaei Botanical Gardens exterior sign with the conservatory in the background\u003cbr/\u003e28. SOUNDBITE (English): Mike Palmer,  Horticulture Manager, Matthaei Botanical Gardens: \"It has a different type of a scent. To me, it smells like something burnt in the toaster. But, it's also been described as overcooked rice.\"\u003cbr/\u003e29. WS of the agave as seen behind a number of other plants\u003cbr/\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='action-container flex justify-between'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' aria-label='Read more description' class='rp-full-description' type='button'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003cspan id='read_more'\u003eRead More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-report'\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='resource-details-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='resource-details-heading'\u003eResource Details\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource-details clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eCurator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan class=\"star-rating\" aria-label=\"3.5 out of 5 stars\" role=\"img\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-star-half-stroke text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-regular fa-star text-action\" aria-hidden=\"true\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt class=\"educator-rating-title\"\u003eEducator Rating\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"educator-rating-details\" data-path=\"/educator_ratings/rrp_data?resourceable_id=1078411\u0026amp;resourceable_type=Boclips%3A%3AVideoMetadata\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"not-yet-rated\"\u003eNot yet Rated\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eGrade\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd title=\"Grade\"\u003eHigher Ed\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSubjects\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\u0026amp;subject_ids%5B%5D=1216220\"\u003eAll Subjects\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eMedia Type\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=2\u0026amp;type_ids%5B%5D=4543650\"\u003eNews Clips\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eSource:\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eDate\u003c/dt\u003e\n\u003cdd\u003e2014\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fai fa-solid fa-language'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\u003cdt\u003eAudiences\u003c/dt\u003e\u003cdd\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003ca href=\"/search?audience_ids%5B%5D=371079\u0026amp;grade_ids%5B%5D=259\u0026amp;search_tab_id=1\"\u003eFor Teacher Use\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/span\u003e\u003c/dd\u003e\u003cdd class=\"text-muted\"\u003e\u003ci class=\"fa-solid fa-lock mr5\"\u003e\u003c/i\u003e2 more...\u003c/dd\u003e\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='detail'\u003e\n\u003cdl\u003e\n\n\u003c/dl\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='concepts-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='concepts-heading'\u003eConcepts\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list concepts' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator' data-type='concepts'\u003eplants, time, leaves, north america, flowers, years, michigan\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='concepts-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='additional-tags-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title' id='additional-tags-heading'\u003eAdditional Tags\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='clearfix'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='details-list keyterms' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator' data-type='keyterms'\u003eflower stalk, plant, united states, century, dies, lifestyle, botanical gardens, flower, thing, base, century plant, university of michigan, kind, recreation and leisure, ann arbor\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='keyterms-toggle-buttons' data-identifier='Boclips::VideoDecorator'\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='false' class='more btn-link' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow More\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-down ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003cbutton aria-expanded='true' class='less btn-link' style='display: none;' type='button'\u003e\n\u003cspan\u003eShow Less\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003ci aria-hidden='true' class='fa-solid fa-caret-up ml5'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/button\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-labelledby='educator-ratings-heading' class='rp-info-section'\u003e\n\u003ch2 class='title sr-only' id='educator-ratings-heading'\u003eEducator Ratings\u003c/h2\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"all-educator-ratings-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\u003cdiv id=\"educator-rating-form-root\"\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='rp-resource'\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Show resource details' class='rp-show-info' role='button' tabindex='0'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fai fa-solid fa-align-left'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\nShow resource details\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv aria-label='Video player' class='player' id='player-wrapper' role='region'\u003e\n\u003cdiv class='relative container mx-auto' id='lp-boclips-visitor-thumbnail'\u003e\n\u003ca class=\"block\" data-html=\"true\" data-placement=\"bottom\" data-trigger=\"click\" data-content=\"\u003cdiv class=\u0026quot;text-center py-2\u0026quot;\u003e\u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/auth/users/sign_in\u0026quot;\u003eSign in\u003c/a\u003e or \u003ca class=\u0026quot;bold text-danger\u0026quot; data-posthog-event=\u0026quot;Signup: LP Signup Activity\u0026quot; data-posthog-location=\u0026quot;body_link_boclips\u0026quot; data-remote=\u0026quot;true\u0026quot; href=\u0026quot;/subscription/new\u0026quot;\u003eJoin Now\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\" data-title=\"Get Full Access\" data-container=\"body\" rel=\"popover\" tabindex=\"0\" aria-label=\"Play video: Death knell sounds for plant that took 80 years to flower\" href=\"/subscription/new\"\u003e\u003cimg class=\"resource-img img-thumbnail img-responsive z-10 lp-boclips-thumbnail w-full h-full lozad\" alt=\"Death knell sounds for plant that took 80 years to flower\" title=\"Death knell sounds for plant that took 80 years to flower\" onError=\"handleImageNotLoadedError(this)\" data-default-image=\"https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/missing.png\" data-src=\"https://static.lp.lexp.cloud/images/attachment_defaults/resource/large/missing.png\" width=\"315\" height=\"220\" src=\"data:image/png;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAAD/ACwAAAAAAQABAAACADs\" /\u003e\n\u003cspan aria-hidden='true' class='flex justify-center items-center bg-white rounded-full w-16 h-16 absolute top-1/2 left-1/2 -mt-8 -ml-8 cursor-pointer z-0 border-2 border-primary drop-shadow-md lp-boclips-thumbnail-playBtn'\u003e\n\u003ci class='fa-solid fa-play text-primary text-3xl ml-1 drop-shadow-xl'\u003e\u003c/i\u003e\n\u003c/span\u003e\n\u003c/a\u003e\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n\u003c/div\u003e\n"}