Identify this cactus (pics)? and Osmorhiza ?claytonii (sweet-cicely)

Identify this cactus (pics)?

Can someone please identify this cactus for me? The leaves aren't very thick like most cacti, but they get thicker at the base. In the photos (links are below) there are what appear to be old, dried up flower stems poking up from the cacti. I've never actually seen these flowers when they were fresh (they've been dead for atleast 3 years and for some reason haven't bloomed again) so I can't tell you what colour they are. Any help in identifying this cactus would be much appreciated!

http://s569.photobucket.com/albums/ss133/Caities/?action=view¤t=SL376788.jpg&newest=1

http://s569.photobucket.com/albums/ss133/Caities/?action=view¤t=SL376791.jpg&newest=1

http://s569.photobucket.com/albums/ss133/Caities/?action=view¤t=SL376792.jpg&newest=1

http://s569.photobucket.com/albums/ss133/Caities/?action=view¤t=SL376794.jpg&newest=1

http://s569.photobucket.com/albums/ss133/Caities/?action=view¤t=SL376787.jpg&newest=1

http://s569.photobucket.com/albums/ss133/Caities/?action=view¤t=SL376789.jpg&newest=1


inflorescence best answer:

Answer by Harshal
The given plant is NOT a cactus , eventhough it is ususally confused with one . The main reason is that both of them are found in desert .

Cacti do not show leaves but has stem that is functioning like leaf.


The plant is Agave americana or ' Century Plant ' of Family Agavaceae .

This plant has leaves that are leathery in texture .
The plant flowers only once and has a huge and massive inflorescence .

Kindly click on the links below to see similar images and to learn more.==

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_americana

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Agave_americana4.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CenturyPlants.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:CenturyPlants.jpg

http://ag.arizona.edu/pima/gardening/aridplants/Agave_americana.html

http://www-staff.it.uts.edu.au/~don/larvae/plants/agav/agave-americana.jpg
http://www.puppylinux.com/bkauler/agave3.jpg

http://www.wildflower.org/image_archive/640x480/PCD3892/PCD3892_IMG0001.JPG


To learn more; use Agave ; Agave americana and Century plant as the key words and search in wikipedia , yahoo and google web pages and images!

Thank you !

inflorescence

Osmorhiza ?claytonii (sweet-cicely)


inflorescence emerging with foliage

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