Biology:Agave deserti
| Desert agave | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Agavoideae |
| Genus: | Agave |
| Species: | A. deserti
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| Binomial name | |
| Agave deserti Engelm.
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Agave deserti (desert agave, mescal, century plant or maguey) is an agave native to desert regions in southern California , Arizona, and Baja California. Its tall yellow flower stalks dot dry rocky slopes and washes throughout the spring.
It forms a rosette of fleshy gray-green leaves 20–70 cm long and 4.5–10 cm broad, with sharp spines along the edges and at the tips. It flowers at maturity (20 to 40 years[2]), sending up an inflorescence 2–6 m tall. The panicle bears numerous yellow, funnel-shaped flowers 3–6 cm long.
There are two varieties:
- Agave deserti var. deserti. Plants usually with numerous rosettes; perianth tube 3–5 mm. Southern California only.
- Agave deserti var. simplex (Gentry) W.C.Hodgson & Reveal. Plants usually with one or only a few rosettes; perianth tube 5–10 mm. Southern California and Arizona.
Cultivation and uses
The desert agave is drought-tolerant but requires good drainage.
The desert dwelling Native Americans used fibers from the leaves to make cloth, bowstrings, and rope.[2] Young flower stalks (roasted), buds, and hearts of plants (also roasted) were eaten.[2] Natives of southern California commonly harvested the "heads" using a specialized digging stick and roasted the leaves and heart alike. Food thus obtained often became a dietary staple, even into drought years.
Alcoholic drinks were also manufactured from the sweet juices of this and other agaves.
References
- ↑ Vanderplank, S. (2019). "Agave deserti". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2019: e.T114979533A116353748. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T114979533A116353748.en. https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/114979533/116353748. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Dole 1996, pg. 57
Sources
- Flora of North America: Agave deserti
- C.Michael Hogan ed. 2010. “Agave deserti”. Encyclopedia of Life
- Jepson Flora Project: Agave deserti
- Dole, Jim W. and Rose, Betty B., Shrubs and Trees of the Southern California Deserts, 1996, Foot-Loose Press.
Wikidata ☰ Q143992 entry
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