Robert Deveau, age 9, of Bridgeport, Conn., 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. There is a story going around that the century plant only blooms once every 100 years. The story is not true.

Some kinds of century plants flower every year and others only once every 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 and produce a new plant. The American century plant is also known as the American aloe.

People in Mexico use the sap of certain agaves to make beverages and long, tough fibers are formed into thread, cord and ropes.