Agave young flower stalk. Agave nectar (also called agave syrup), a sweetener derived from the sap, is used as an alternative to sugar in cooking, and can be added to breakfast cereals as a binding agent. The sap of "A. americana" and other species is used in Mexico and Mesoamerica to produce "pulque", an alcoholic beverage. The flower shoot is cut out and the sap collected and subsequently fermented. By distillation, a spirit called "mezcal" is prepared; one of the best-known forms of mezcal is tequila. When dried and cut in slices, the flowering stem forms natural razor strops, and the
Agave neglecta Agave neglecta Agave neglecta, known as wild century plant, is endemic to central Florida. It is found in sandy soils, especially near the coasts. It has been rarely seen in the wild, although it has been documented via several photographs and sterile specimens. Coincidentally, the latter portion of its scientific name means "neglected" or "overlooked". It may represent a cultivar of "Agave sisalana" or "Agave kewensis". Some authorities express doubt regarding the species' nativity, stating that the species may have been introduced from Mexico during pre-Columbian years. The species is also known as Small agave in honor of its discoverer;