A colossal plant housed at the Truman State University for almost 50 years is now getting ready to display its blooms before it undergoes an unusual event in its life.

This enormous Agave americana plant only blooms before its death, which is an ironic twist of fate. It's now getting ready to die and has entered its flowering stage inside the university's greenhouse in Kirksville, Missouri.

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Greenhouse manager Jena Canfield said some student workers first noticed a stalk starting to shoot up a few weeks back. The blooms literally went up the roof and the plant has grown so fast Truman State personnel had to remove panels located high above the greenhouse before the plant broke out.

The agave's stalk can grow up to 25 feet before it branches out and blooms within the next few weeks, said Lisa Hooper, an associate biology professor.

The Agave americana is a native of the deserts of Mexico and is well known for producing tequila. The leaves are harvested for this type of alcohol and are where the sugars accumulate.

Hooper said this whole flowering process is a once in a lifetime event for the dying plant, which can produce a final remarkable display of its flowering process. She said this particular plant species will only flower once during their whole lifetimes and then they die.

A part of the plant will still continue its legacy as new plants are sprouting and growing from its base. New plants can flourish from that base with the help of pollinators such as bats and moths.

Hooper said the plant has been in the university for 50 years. It's still a mystery as to who originally brought the plant into the campus.

Tagsagave americana, truman state university, kirksville missouri, US, agave americana plant, agave plant, tequila plant