Agave deserti

Common Name: desert agave

Family Name: Asparagaceae

Botanical Name: Agave deserti

Synonyms:

Botanical Synonyms: A. consociata; A. pringlei

Sub Species:

Variety:

Forma:

Cultivar:

Characteristics: A compact to open, woody succulent plant that is stemless or short-stemmed from 20-40 cm (7.8-15.8 in), with rosette of leaves (1, 2). It is often caespitose (growing in clonal clumps) in habit, but sometimes sends out clones on longer stolons (underground runners) (1, 2). At maturity, this plant grows 0.6 m (2 ft) high and 1.8 m (6 ft) wide (3). Leaves are ascending, triangular-oblong-lanceolate in shape, widest at the base, (3-10 cm (1.2-4 in) wide at most), 15-70 cm (5.9-27.6 in) long, gray-green or sometimes yellowish green in color, and openly concave, becoming channeled, rigid, straight or falcate (curved to one side like a scythe) (1, 2). Leaf surface is sometimes transversely banded, glaucous, glabrous or slightly roughened (1, 2). The spines at the tip of leaves are variously acicular-conical, compressed, straight, stiff, 3-5 mm (0.1-0.2 in) wide, 25-50 mm (0.9-1.9 in) long, brown to gray, and decurrent (extending into the leaf) for 3-10cm (1.2-4 in) (1, 2). The leaf margins have two distinct forms (1, 2). One form has straight margins, with single, weakly attached, well defined teeth, which are about 1 mm (0.04 in) long, arranged on the margins about 5-15 mm (0.2-0.6 in) apart (1, 2). The other form has concave margins, with significantly longer teeth, as long as 10 mm (0.4 in), that are spaced 15-20 mm (0.6-0.8 in) apart (1, 2). There may be a gradient between these forms (1, 2). Inflorescence isare 2-7 m (6.5-23 ft) high, panicles, not bulbiferous (does not produce clonal bulbils) consisting of 6-15 lateral branches, that are 5-30 cm (1.4-11.8 in) long (1, 2). Flowers are chrome-yellow, 3.5-5 cm (1.4-2 in) long, clustered in groups of 12-48, and erect (1,2). Capsules are ovoid to oblong, 15-20 mm (0.6-0.8 in) in diameter, 35-55 mm (1.4-2.2 in) long, with a beaked apex (1, 2). Seeds are 5-6 mm (0.2-0.24 in) across, black, flat, and elliptical with one straight to concave edge (2, 6).

Compound: Aga dese

Geographic Origin: Sonoran Desert

Ecozone Origin: Nearctic

Biome Origin: SW

Natural History: This species is native to southern California, southwestern Arizona, and northern Mexico (1, 2, 3). The plant generally grows in washes, plains, and dry, rocky slopes between 90-1525 m (300-5000 ft) (3, 4). The plant typically flowers somewhere between 8 and 20 years of age, and after setting seed the entire plant dies (though nonflowering clones can live on) (3, 4). This plant evolved with bats as a primary pollinator, but its northern range is out of reach of the typical bat species it relies upon (4). Those agaves that are out of the bats’ territories are also west of the San Andres fault, leading to the theory that the plants may have been shifted north over time (4). There is also the theory that the bats’ territories moved further south over time (4). The plant relies heavily on asexual, clonal reproduction in the wild, and it has been observed that many of the plants in the northern range are not pollinated often, but much more prone to clonal reproduction (4). In one local in Baja California, the plant has adapted to carpenter bee pollination by growing shorter anthers (4).

Cultivation Notes: Available widely in cultivation, this plant is easy to propagate by offsets (3, 4). It is hardy to at least 15°F (-9.4°C), and may be able to tolerate down to 5°F (-15°C) (4, 5). It tolerates full sun well, but also grows well with shade in more arid environments (4, 5). This species is well known for its drought tolerance, requiring low supplemental watering, and well-draining soils (3, 4). As with many agaves, it is susceptible to the agave snout weevil (4, 5). When growing from seed, the seedlings will grow well under a nurse species like a grass or shrub (4). The seeds do not require any treatment to be sown, but soaking in water for 24 hours may improve germination rates (3, 6). While they rarely germinate in the wild, in cultivation the seeds germinate easily (3, 4). Press the seeds gently into a well-draining, moistened potting mix, leaving them slightly exposed, and then cover with a clear plastic lid and place in indirect sunlight (6). The seedlings typically emerge within a few weeks to a few months, and require a slow introduction to more direct sunlight as well as slight moisture until larger (6).

Ethnobotany: This agave species has a long history of use by indigenous peoples (7, 8). It was harvested for food, where it was baked in a stone lined oven underground for several days before eating (7, 8). The inflorescence, fruit pods, and leaves were baked for food as well, and the flowers boiled and eaten (7, 8). The plant was also used for fiber, being made into clothing and rope (8). This fiber may have been used to make casts for limbs and to secure poultices over wounds (7). As with many agave species, it was also made into alcoholic beverages, or mescal (7, 8).

Height: 0 - 5 feet

Width: 0 - 5 feet

Growth Rate: Slow Growing

Grow Season: Summer

Flower Season: ForeSummer

Color: Yellow

Function: Accent

Spread: Non-spreading

Allergen: Non-allergenic

Invasive: Benign

Toxicity: Benign

Hardy: Hardy

Water Use: Low water Use

Citations:

1._ Breitung, A. (1968). The Agaves. The Cactus and Succulent Journal.<o:p></o:p>
2._ eFloras.org. Accessed January 2024.<o:p></o:p>
3._ Wildflower.org. Accessed January 2024.<o:p></o:p>
4._ Sunnylands.org. Accessed January 2024.<o:p></o:p>
5._ Calscape.org. Accessed January 2024.<o:p></o:p>
6._ Plantflowerseeds.com. Accessed January 2024.<o:p></o:p>
7._ Garcia, C., and Adams, J. (2005). Healing with Medicinal Plants of the West. Abedus Press.<o:p></o:p>
8._ Horticulture Unlimited. Accessed January 2024.<o:p></o:p>

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