A genus of plants (order Amaryllidaceae) of which the chief
   species is the maguey or century plant (A. Americana), wrongly called
   Aloe. It is from ten to seventy years, according to climate, in
   attaining maturity, when it produces a gigantic flower stem, sometimes
   forty feet in height, and perishes. The fermented juice is the pulque
   of the Mexicans; distilled, it yields mescal. A strong thread and a
   tough paper are made from the leaves, and the wood has many uses.