Common Name:
mescal ceniza
Family Name:
Asparagaceae
Botanical Name:
Agave colorata
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
The mescal cenizo is a small to medium, compact, rosette-forming succulent (1). It is usually solitary, but can occasionally send out clones from its base, whereupon the mature plant will develop a short stem (1, 2). The leaves are 25-60 cm (9.8-23.6 in) long by 12-18 cm (4.7-7.1 in) wide, light grey to frosty blue, ovate to lanceolate, roughly textured, firm, flat to concave above (1, 2). The leaves typically have prominent pink-red cross-bands, and distinct bud imprints (the imprints of other leaves left on their surface) (1, 2). The margins of the leaves are strongly wavy, and each crest is armed with a brown-grey, sometimes wavy tooth that is 5-10 mm (0.2-0.4 in) long; the teeth are spaced 15-30 mm (0.6-1.2 in) apart (1, 2). Each leaf terminates in an apical spine that is 30-50 mm (1.2-2 in) long, brown-grey, and straight to curved (1, 2). The inflorescence, occurring at the end of the plant’s life, can be 2-3 m (6.5-10 ft) tall, and range from straight to strongly curved in shape (1, 2). The inflorescence bears 15-20 densely flowered, loosely arranged umbels (flower clusters on short stalks) on its upper length (1, 2). The densely clustered flowers are 50-70 mm (2-2.8 in) long, are reddish when in bud form but open at maturity to reveal yellow and orange petals (1, 2). The fruit are brown, oblong to clavate (club-shaped), 45-55 mm (1.8-2.2 in) long and 15-17 mm (0.6-0.7 in) wide 3-chambered capsules (1, 2). The seeds are black, typically 6 x 5 mm (0.19 x 2 in), shaped like flattened tear-drops (1).
Compound:
Geographic Origin:
Ecozone Origin:
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
The mescal cenizo grows along the coast of western mainland Mexico, in Sonora and northern Sinaloa (1, 2). It is quite rare in habitat, keeping to thorn scrub forests on steep volcanic slopes, sometimes appearing to grow out of solid rock cliffs (1, 2). This plant is native to areas with reliable midsummer and early autumn rains, and it could be that its northern range is limited by summer aridity (2). It is pollinated by bats and hummingbirds (1, 2). This plant typically takes 15 years to bloom, and it subsequently dies after blooming (1, 2). Gentry, in his influential work Agaves of Continental North America, surmises that the rarity of this plant in the wild could be due to its heavy use as a sugar source by the indigenous Mayo and Yaqui peoples before colonial contact, though this is speculative (1).
Cultivation Notes:
The mescal cenizo is a slow-growing species, taking about 15 years to mature and bloom, after which it dies (2). The plant produces few off-sets, so propagation is typically done by seed (2). It can thrive either in the ground or in pots, requiring well-draining soil in either situation (2). During the warm months of the year, the plant can be thoroughly watered rather often, as long as the soil dries out in between each watering (2). Regular watering helps the plant to grow faster, but the plant can tolerate drought quite well, though its looks may suffer (2). It can tolerate full sun in some areas, but in arid places (such as Tucson) the plant benefits from light shade (2). It is also tolerant of cold, down to 18° F (2). This agave is also purported to be resistant to agave weevils (2).
Ethnobotany:
As with many agave species, the mescal cenizo is an important source of the alcoholic beverage mezcal (2). This drink is made through fermenting the heart of the plant, which is filled with natural sugars (4). Before fermentation, the entire plant is harvested (4). Then, the leaves are removed and the heart is pit roasted to caramelize the sugars and produce a lasting smokiness in the final product (4). Finally, after the roasted heart is macerated, the resulting juice is extracted and fermented into alcohol (4). This style of alcohol production has been part of indigenous and Mexican cultures for hundreds of years (4).
Height:
0 - 5 feet
Width:
0 - 5 feet
Growth Rate:
Slow Growing
Grow Season:
Summer
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Yellow
Function:
Accent
Spread:
Non-spreading
Allergen:
Non-allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Benign
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
