Agave

Plants short-stemmed pachycauls, perennial, often flowering after 8–20+ years, monocarpic or polycarpic, acaulescent or caulescent, scapose, forming succulent rosettes on thick, fibrous-rooted crowns, often rhizomatous. Stems aboveground, unbranched or, less often, branched. Leaves evergreen in rosette; blade light green to green and occasionally with lighter patterns of white (“cross-zoned”) or imprinted with white (“bud-prints”), linear-lanceolate to ovate, firm to rigid, often thick and fleshy, margins entire, filiferous, or armed with marginal teeth and short to long, sharp-pointed apical spine. Scapes, with inflorescences, much exceeding foliage. Inflorescences terminal atop a semiwoody stalk, spicate, racemose, or paniculate, open to dense, bracteate, occasionally bulbiferous, with flowers borne singly, in pairs, or in umbellike clusters of 2–40+ on peduncles or the lateral branches borne by the peduncle. Flowers protandrous, erect or recurved, showy; perianth mostly yellow, infrequently whitish or reddish, funnelform to tubular; tepals 6, connate basally into tube atop a typically constricted neck; limb lobes erect or curved, equal to unequal in length and/or width, linear to oblong or deltate, often papillate at recurved or hooded apex; stamens 6, exserted, attached atop or within perianth tube; filaments mostly filiform; anthers versatile, linear; ovary inferior, greenish at anthesis, 3-locular, succulent, thick-walled, ovules numerous; style subulate; stigma 3-lobed, glandular, capitate, papillate. Fruits capsular, oblong to ovoid, mostly thickwalled and fleshy, dehiscence loculicidal. Seeds black, flattened, obovoid, becoming globose distally. x = 30 (5 large, 25 small).

Distribution

Warmer regions in the Americas from the sw United States and Fla. s to the Caribbean Islands and into Mexico, Central America, and tropical South America, widely cultivated.

Discussion

Species ca. 200 (27 in the flora).

Specimens of Agave are planted occasionally for their horticultural value in warmer regions. Native Americans have used most of our native species for food and fiber. Mescal and tequila are distilled liquors derived from the meristem and leaf base of agave. Tequila comes mainly from A. tequilana F. A. C. Weber, whereas A. angustifolia Haworth is the usual source for “commerical” mescal. Some variants of A. angustifolia are also important sources of fiber. Commercially, most agave fiber comes from A. sisalana in what is now a worldwide industry. Agave fourcroydes Lemaire is also used but more locally in Latin America including Mexico. Both species are sterile hybrids of unknown origin.

Native Americans who used agave plants for food and fiber developed numerous cultivars, including many that may be the results of hybridization or mutation events resulting in fully or partially sterile clones. Some have been sufficiently studied cytologically and morphologically so that the origin of the hybrid species can be ascertained. Naturally occurring hybrids also are known, and some sterile recombinants are so distinctive that they have been formally named (e.g., Agave ×ajoensis, A. ×arizonica, A. ×glomeruliflora, and probably A. schottii var. treleasei). There remain some species that may be of hybrid origin, or at least now are sterile or partially sterile, but little is known about their origin. Essentially, all the species are known today from pre-Columbian agricultural sites, and most appear to have had a Mexican origin (e.g., the many expressions of A. americana subsp. americana, A. decipiens, A. desmettiana, A. neglecta, A. delamateri, A. phillipsiana, A. sisalana, and A. weberi). Some rare species associated with pre-Columbian sites are fertile (e.g., A. murpheyi); whether they were locally selected or brought from elsewhere is unknown. Some hybrid expressions, such as A. gracilipes, seem to be well established. It is a matter of taxonomic judgment whether the species status for A. gracilipes should be altered to hybrid status; we have not proposed that now because the cytological work to confirm the morphological hypothesis of a hybrid origin has not been done.

Indigenous people long have used agaves. Those containing high amounts of sapogenins are bitter and generally not used for food. Agave plants used for food are harvested when they show signs of flowering. Rosettes are collected and the leaves cut away, leaving the “heart” or “head,” which is pit-baked for many hours. It has been known for a long time that agaves have been cultivated in the warmer regions of North America, but it was only recently discovered that cultivation occurred north of the Mexican border. Such agaves are typically found near agricultural features and possess morphological characteristics that reflect desirable agronomic attributes. People no doubt traded agave products and live plants, thereby expanding the distribution of many expressions of agave. Agaves whose distributions directly reflect their movement by man include Agave murpheyi, A. delamateri, A. phillipsiana, A. applanata, A. karatto Miller, and A. decipiens. It is also suggested that A. americana subsp. americana var. expansa, A. desmettiana, A. sisalana, A. neglecta, and A. weberi may have been ancient cultivars originating in Latin America or the Caribbean, although at present there is little information to support this hypothesis.

Identification of Agave species is often difficult, especially with nonflowering material. See H. S. Gentry (1982, p. 47) for information on how to prepare specimens properly.

Selected References

Berger, A. 1915. Die Agaven. Jena.

Breitung, A. J. 1968. The Agaves.... Edited by Charles Glass and Robert A. Foster. Reseda.

Gentry, H. S. 1972. The Agave Family in Sonora. Washington. [Agric. Handb. 399].

Gentry, H. S. 1978. The agaves of Baja California. Occas. Pap. Calif. Acad. Sci. 130.

Gentry, H. S. 1982. Agaves of Continental North America. Tucson.

Hodgson, W. C. 1999. Vascular plants of Arizona: Agavaceae. J. Arizona-Nevada Acad. Sci. 32: 1–21.

Hodgson, W. C. 2001. Food Plants of the Sonoran Desert. Tucson.

Lower Taxa

Agave americana, Agave asperrima, Agave chrysantha, Agave decipiens, Agave delamateri, Agave deserti, Agave desmettiana, Agave gracilipes, Agave havardiana, Agave lechuguilla, Agave mckelveyana, Agave murpheyi, Agave neglecta, Agave palmeri, Agave parryi, Agave parviflora, Agave phillipsiana, Agave schottii, Agave shawii, Agave sisalana, Agave toumeyana, Agave univittata, Agave utahensis, Agave weberi, Agave ×ajoensis, Agave ×arizonica, Agave ×glomeruliflora

Key

1	Inflorescences spicate, subspicate, or sometimes narrowly racemose-paniculate, rarely racemose; flowers solitary, in pairs, or in clusters, borne on peduncles or lateral branches 10 cm or shorter (subg. Littaea (Tagliabue) Baker).	> 2
1	Inflorescences paniculate; flowers in clusters, borne on peduncles terminating in lateral branches longer than 10 cm (subg. Agave).	> 10
2	Leaf margins entire or filiferous, sometimes with inconspicuous teeth near leaf base; limb lobes no more than twice length of perianth tube.	> 3
2	Leaf margins conspicuously armed, nonfiliferous; limb lobes more than twice length of perianth tube.	> 6
3	Rosettes shorter than 1.5 dm; leaves 6–10 cm, marginal fibers tightly curled, apex abruptly acuminate; flowers 1.4–1.7 cm; limb lobes 2–3.5 mm; sc Arizona.	Agave parviflora
3	Rosettes 1–6 dm high (rarely shorter in A. toumeyana); leaves (3–)8.5–50 cm, marginal fibers curled, straight, or absent, apex acute to long-acuminate; flowers 1.6–5.3 cm; limb lobes 6–20 mm; Arizona, New Mexico.	> 4
4	Flowers 1.6–2.8 cm; perianth tube 3–4.5 mm, limb lobes 6.5–10 mm; marginal leaf fibers conspicuous, curled, infrequently sparse or absent; c Arizona.	Agave toumeyana
4	Flowers (2.9–)3–5.3 cm; perianth tube (4–)6–21 mm, limb lobes (7–)10–20 mm; marginal leaf fibers erect, spreading, or absent.	> 5
5	Leaves 0.7–2.5 cm wide, widest near base, blade yellowish green or deep green, usually with conspicuous bud-prints, linear, margins filiferous or not; se Arizona, sw New Mexico.	Agave schottii
5	Leaves 1.5–3 cm wide, widest near middle, blade light green, without bud-prints, linear-lanceolate, margins nonfiliferous; sw Arizona.	Agave ×ajoensis
6	Limb lobes 5–6.5 times longer than perianth tube.	> 7
6	Limb lobes 2–4 times longer than perianth tube.	> 8
7	Leaf margins undulate to crenate, not easily detached, armed, teeth mostly 1–2 cm apart, apical spine 1–2 cm; perianth greenish white to yellowish green; s Texas.	Agave univittata
7	Leaf margins straight, easily detached, armed, teeth mostly (1–)2–4 cm apart, apical spine 1.5–4.5 cm; perianth yellow, frequently tinged with red or purple; sc New Mexico, w Texas.	Agave lechuguilla
8	Leaves (5–)7–10(–12.5) cm wide; flowers 4–4.7 cm; w Texas.	Agave ×glomeruliflora
8	Leaves 1–5.5 cm wide; flowers shorter than 4.3 cm.	> 9
9	Leaf margins horny, horns extending from apical spine to below mid-blade; limb lobes erect to ascending, not connivent; flowers cylindric-urceolate, in clusters of 10–20; filaments light yellow, inserted mid perianth tube; ovary 0.8–1.5 cm; c Arizona.	Agave ×arizonica
9	Leaf margins horny, horns extending from apical spine to distalmost marginal teeth; limb lobes erect, connivent; flowers urceolate, in clusters of 2–12; filaments white, inserted near base of perianth tube; ovary 1.2–2.9 cm; se California, s Nevada, nw Arizona, sw Utah.	Agave utahensis
10	Leaf blade linear-lanceolate, 10 times longer than wide; limb lobes drying reflexed on perianth tubes; capsules ellipsoid to oblong; s Florida.	Agave decipiens
10	Leaf blade linear-lanceolate, oblanceolate, lanceolate to ovate, or spatulate, less than 10 times longer than wide; limb lobes not drying reflexed on perianth tubes; capsules variable; Florida, Texas, sw United States.	> 11
11	Rosettes 10 dm or longer (sometimes only 7 dm in A. asperrima); leaves (80–)120–250 cm (exc. 60–110 cm in A. asperrima).	> 12
11	Rosettes usually shorter than 16 dm (up to 20 dm in A. sisalana and A. shawii); leaves typically shorter than 160 cm.	> 13
12	Leaves mostly reflexed, 60–110 cm, scabrous; marginal teeth 8–15 mm or more, usually deflexed along lower leaf edge; flowers 6–8 cm, peduncles 15–18; s Texas.	Agave asperrima
12	Leaves occasionally reflexed, (80–)100–200 cm, smooth, marginal teeth 5–10 mm, nearly straight or undulate to crenate; flowers 7–10 cm, peduncles 15–35; s Texas, sc Arizona.	Agave americana
13	Leaf margins unarmed or with teeth reduced to prickles 1–2 mm.	> 14
13	Leaf margins armed with well-defined teeth longer than 2 mm.	> 17
14	Scape 2.5–3 m; leaves 50–90 cm; panicles compact; flowers 4–6 cm; s Florida.	Agave desmettiana
14	Scape 5–10(–13) m; leaves 80–160 cm; panicles open; flowers 5.5–8 cm; wc Florida, s Texas.	> 15
15	Mature leaves 9–12 cm wide, margins typically unarmed, apical spine dark brown, 2–2.5 cm; flowers 5.5–6.5 cm; s Florida.	Agave sisalana
15	Mature leaves 12–25 cm wide, margins typically armed with minute teeth, apical spine dark brown or brown to grayish, 2.5–4.5 cm; flowers 5.5–8 cm; wc Florida, s Texas.	> 16
16	Scape 8–10(–13) m; flowers 5.5–6 cm; apical leaf spine 2.5 cm; wc Florida.	Agave neglecta
16	Scape 6.5–8 m; flowers 7–8 cm; apical leaf spine 3–4.5 cm; s Texas.	Agave weberi
17	Limb lobes 17–40 mm; new plants budding from leaf axils, forming fragmented supine clones or sometimes single rosettes; mature rosettes 0.8–20 dm; scape 2–4 m; sw California.	Agave shawii
17	Limb lobes (6–)9–27 mm; plants forming single rosettes, or new plants budding from rhizomes and forming clones; mature rosettes up to 15 dm; scape (1.7–)2–7(–7.2) m; sw United States.	> 18
18	Leaf blade spatulate, light glaucous-green to yellow green, apical spine 2 cm or shorter; inflorescences prolifically bulbiferous; c Arizona.	Agave murpheyi
18	Leaf blade linear-lanceolate, lanceolate, oblanceolate, or obovate, variously colored, apical spine usually longer than 2 cm; inflorescences not bulbiferous, or producing bulbils only when damaged; Arizona, California, New Mexico, Texas.	> 19
19	Leaves of rosettes somewhat open to dense; leaf blade linear to lanceolate to broadly ovate; inflorescences dense, usually with 20–40 lateral branches (fewer than 20 in A. havardiana and sometimes A. parryi).	> 20
19	Leaves of rosettes usually open; leaf blade linear-lanceolate to lanceolate or oblanceolate; inflorescences open, usually with 6–26 (–32) lateral branches.	> 22
20	Perianth tube 14–22 mm, ca. equal to or slightly longer than limb lobes (18–24 mm); filaments inserted ca. mid perianth tube; leaves 30–60(–70) × 15–27 cm, marginal teeth (5–)7–10 mm, apical spine 3–5(–10) mm; flowers 6.8–9 cm; w Texas.	Agave havardiana
20	Perianth tube 4–18 mm, 1/2 as long or less than limb lobes (13–27 mm); filaments inserted above mid perianth tube to just below rim; leaves 7–65 × 4.5–20 cm, marginal teeth 2–8 mm, apical spine 1.5–5 cm; flowers 4–8.1 cm; Arizona, New Mexico, Texas.	> 21
21	Perianth tube ca. 1/2 (6–18 mm) as long or less than limb lobes (13–27 mm); filaments inserted above mid-perianth tube to just below rim; leaves 7–65 × 4.5–20 cm, apical spine 1.5–4 cm; inflorescences broadly paniculate; flowers 4.3–8.1 cm; plants blooming spring to summer; c and se Arizona, sw New Mexico.	Agave parryi
21	Perianth tube much shorter (4–7 mm) than limb lobes (14–18 mm); filaments inserted just below rim of perianth tube; leaves 18–30 × 4.5–7 cm, apical spine 2.5–5 cm; inflorescences narrowly to broadly paniculate; flowers 4–5.5 (–5.8) cm; plants blooming summer to early fall; se New Mexico, w Texas.	Agave gracilipes
22	Perianth tube shallow, 2–10 mm, much shorter than limb lobes (12–20 mm); filaments inserted at base of perianth tube or near rim; limb lobes ascending or spreading, occasionally erect, equal or subequal, wilting soon after anthesis; flowers 3–6 cm.	> 23
22	Perianth tube not shallow, 6–20 mm, frequently equaling or exceeding limb lobes (6–22 mm); filaments inserted near perianth tube base to ca. mid tube (inserted at 2 levels in A. palmeri, mid-tube and near rim, inserted near rim in A. phillipsiana); limb lobes erect to erect-ascending, unequal, persistent and often leathery during and after anthesis; flowers 3.5–8.6 cm.	> 24
23	Leaves (20–)25–70 × 4.5–10 cm, widest at base, marginal teeth weakly attached; limb lobes 13–20 mm; s California, sw Arizona.	Agave deserti
23	Leaves 17.5–40 × 2.8–5 cm, broadest at middle, marginal teeth firmly attached; limb lobes 11–13 mm; wc Arizona.	Agave mckelveyana
24	Perianth uniformly golden yellow; leaf margins armed with teeth 4–10 mm, (0.8–)1–3(–4) cm apart, interstitial teeth (0–)1–3(–5) on distal 2/3 of margins; c, se Arizona.	Agave chrysantha
24	Perianth greenish cream to cream to pale yellow or light green, apex of limb lobes and filaments flushed with maroon; leaf margins armed with teeth 3–7 mm, 0.2–2.5 cm apart, interstitial teeth (2–)3–12 on distal 2/3 of margins; Arizona, sw New Mexico.	> 25
25	Leaves erect or erect-ascending, blade glaucous-gray to -bluish, margins armed, interstitial teeth (3–)6–12 on distal 2/3, apex conspicuously incurved; filaments inserted at 1 level ca. mid perianth tube; c Arizona.	Agave delamateri
25	Leaves ascending to spreading, blade variously colored, margins armed, interstitial teeth (2–)3–7 on distal 2/3 of margins, apex not conspicuously incurved; filaments inserted at 2 levels or subequally on perianth tube; Arizona, New Mexico.	> 26
26	Flowers 4.5–7.5 cm; limb lobes (6–)9–18 mm; filaments inserted at 2 levels on perianth tube; scape (1.7–)4–6.5(–7.2) m; leaf margins armed with firmly attached teeth (0.5–)1–2 cm apart; rosettes solitary; plants rarely suckering; se Arizona, sw New Mexico.	Agave palmeri
26	Flowers 7.4–8.6 cm; limb lobes 15–22 mm; filaments inserted subequally below rim of tube; scape 2.7–5.5 m; leaf margins armed with brittle teeth, 1–2.5 cm apart; rosettes solitary or cespitose; plants freely suckering; nc Arizona.	Agave phillipsiana