Agave americana subsp. protamericana
Agaves Continental N. Amer., 287, figs. 12.1, 12.3–12.5, 12.8, 12.12, 12.14, 12.15, plate 12.1. 1982.
Common names: Wild century plant
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 26. Treatment on page 453.
Revision as of 19:34, 24 September 2019 by FNA>Volume Importer
Plants acaulescent or short-stemmed, trunks less than 1 m; rosettes open. Leaves frequently reflexed, 80–135 × 17–22 cm; blade light green to glaucous-gray, sometimes cross-zoned, broadly lanceolate, adaxially plane or guttered, abaxially convex; margins crenate, teeth, 5–10 mm; apical spine subulate, 3–6 cm. Scape 6–8 m. Inflorescences: lateral branches 15–20. Flowers 7.5–9 cm; perianth tube 15–20 mm; ovary 4–4.5 cm. Capsules 3.5–4 cm. Seeds 7–8 mm.
Phenology: Flowering early spring–early summer.
Habitat: Sandy places in desert scrub
Elevation: 200 m
Distribution
Tex., ne Mexico.
Discussion
The Starr County, Texas, plants of subsp. protamericana are smaller in stature than those seen in Mexican populations but appear to belong to this wild taxon.
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.