Oliver Morris, age 12, of Henderson, Nev., for his question:

WHAT IS THE CENTURY PLANT?

The century plant is the name of a group of desert plants that belong to the agave family. Myth has it that the century plant only blooms once every 100 years. But that is not true.

Some kinds of century plants flower every year and others only once in 10 years or so. But none bloom so rarely as once in 100 years.

The American century plant has thick, fleshy leaves with sharp spined edges. The leaves die after the plant has bloomed, but the roots remain alive to produce a new plant. The American century plant is also known as the American aloe.

In Mexico, people use the sap of certain agaves to make beverages, and the long, tough fibers of the plant are used to make thread, cord and rope.