Agave
For the queen of Greek mythology, see Agave (mythology). |
Swan's Neck Agave (Agave attenuata) |
The most familiar species is
Agave americana, a native of tropical America. Common names include Century Plant, Maguey (in Mexico), or American Aloe (it is not, however, closely related to the genus
Aloe). The name "Century Plant" refers to the long time the plant takes to flower, although the number of years before flowering occurs depends on the vigor of the individual, the richness of the soil and the climate; during these years the plant is storing in its fleshy leaves the nourishment required for the effort of flowering.
Agave americana, century plant, was introduced into Europe about the middle of the
16th century and is now widely cultivated for its handsome appearance; in the variegated forms the leaf has a white or yellow marginal or central stripe from base to apex. As the leaves unfold from the center of the rosette the impression of the marginal spines is very conspicuous on the still erect younger leaves. The tequ plants are usually grown in tubs and put out in the summer months, but in the winter require protection from frost. They mature very slowly and die after flowering, but are easily propagated by the offsets from the base of the stem.
During the development of the inflorescence there is a rush of sap to the base of the young flowerstalk. In the case of
A. americana and other species this is used by the Mexicans to make their national beverage,
pulque; the flower shoot is cut out and the sap collected and subsequently fermented. By distillation a spirit called
mezcal is prepared; one of the most well-known forms of mezcal is
tequila.
The leaves of several species yield fiber, as for instance,
Agave rigida var. sisalana,
sisal hemp,
Agave decipiens, False Sisal Hemp;
Agave americana is the source of pita fiber, and is used as a fiber plant in Mexico, the
West Indies and southern
Europe. The flowering stem of the last named, dried and cut in slices, forms natural razor strops, and the expressed juice of the leaves will lather in water like soap. The Native Americans of Mexico used the agave to make pens, nails and needles, as well as string to sew and make weavings. In
India the plant is extensively used for hedges along railroads.
Agave syrup (also called agave nectar) has been used as an alternative to
sugar in cooking.
The juice from many species of agave can cause acute contact
dermatitis. It will produce reddening and blistering lasting one to two weeks. Episodes of itching may recur up to a year thereafter, even though there is no longer a visible rash. Interestingly, dried parts of the plants can be handled with bare hands with little or no effect.
Agaves were once classified in
Liliaceae but most references now include them in their own family,
Agavaceae.
Agaves have long presented special difficulties for
taxonomy; variations within a species may be considerable, and a number of named species are of unknown origin, and may just be variants of original wild species.
Spanish and Portuguese explorers probably brought agaves back with them, but the plants became popular in Europe during the
19th century, with many types being imported by collectors. Some of have been continuously propagated by offset since then, and do not consistently resemble any species known in nature, although this may simply be due to the unnatural growing conditions in Europe.
Agave aboriginumAgave abortivaAgave abruptaAgave acicularisAgave acklinicolaAgave affinisAgave × ajoensis =
Agave schottii var.
schottii ×
Agave deserti var.
simplexAgave aktitesAgave albescensAgave albomarginataAgave alibertiiAgave aloidesAgave amaniensisAgave americana L. – American Agave, American Century Plant, Century Plant, Maguey americano
*
Agave americana var.
americana*
Agave americana var.
expansa*
Agave americana var.
latifolia*
Agave americana var.
marginata*
Agave americana var.
medio-picta*
Agave americana var.
oaxacensis*
Agave americana var.
striata*
Agave americana ssp.
protamericana |
Tequila Agave (Agave tequilana) |
Agave angustiarumAgave angustifolia Haw. – Century plant, Maguey espad n
Agave angustissimaAgave anomalaAgave antillarum*
Agave antillarum var.
grammontensisAgave applanataAgave arizonica Gentry & J.H. Weber – Arizona Agave, Arizona Century Plant
Agave arubensisAgave asperaAgave asperrima Jacobi – Maguey spero, Rough Century Plant
Agave atrovirensAgave atrovirens var. mirabilisâ€" The World's largest Agave.
Agave attenuata – Swan's Neck Agave, Dragon Tree Agave, Foxtail Agave
Agave aureaAgave avellanidensAgave bahamanaAgave bakeriAgave banlanAgave barbadensisAgave baxteriAgave bergeriAgave bernhardiAgave boldinghianaAgave bolliiAgave botterii Agave boucheiAgave bourgaeiAgave bovicornuta – Cowhorn Agave
Agave braceanaAgave brachystachysAgave bracteosa – Squid Agave
Agave brandegeeiAgave braunianaAgave breedloveiAgave brevipetalaAgave breviscapaAgave brevispinaAgave brittoniaAgave bromeliaefoliaAgave brunneaAgave bulbiferaAgave cacozelaAgave cajalbanensisAgave calderoniAgave calodontaAgave campanulataAgave cantala Roxb. – cantala, Maguey de la India (supplies Manila-Maquey fiber)
Agave capensisAgave carchariodontaAgave caribaeaAgave caribiicolaAgave carminisAgave caroli-schmidtiiAgave celsiiAgave cernuaAgave cerulata*
Agave cerulata ssp.
subcerulataAgave chiapensis (syn.
Agave polyacantha)
Agave chihuahuanaAgave chinensisAgave chisosensisAgave chloracanthaAgave chrysantha Peebles – Golden Flowered Agave, Golden Flower Century Plant
Agave chrysoglossaAgave coccineaAgave cocuiAgave coespitosaAgave colimanaAgave collinaAgave colorata – Mescal ceniza
Agave compactaAgave complicataAgave compluviataAgave concinnaAgave congestaAgave conjunctaAgave connochaetodonAgave consociataAgave convallisAgave corderoyiAgave costaricanaAgave cucullataAgave cundinamarcensisAgave cupreataAgave dasyliriodesAgave datylioAgave davilloniAgave de-meesterianaAgave dealbataAgave deamianaAgave debilisAgave decaisneanaAgave decipiens Baker – False Sisal
Agave delamateri W.C. Hodgson & L. Slauson
Agave densifloraAgave dentiensAgave deserti Engelm. – Desert Century Plant, Desert Agave, Maguey de Desierto
*
Agave deserti ssp.
simplexAgave desmettiana Jacobi – Dwarf Century Plant, Smooth Agave (syn.
A. miradorensis)
Agave diacanthaAgave difformisAgave disceptataAgave disjunctaAgave dissimulansAgave donnell-smithiiAgave durangensisAgave dussianaAgave eborispinaAgave echinoïdesAgave eduardiAgave eggersiana Trel. – Eggers' Century Plant, St. Croix Agave
Agave ehrenbergiiAgave eichlamiAgave ekmaniAgave elizaeAgave ellemeetianaAgave endlichianaAgave engelmanniAgave enteaAgave erosaAgave evadensAgave excelsaAgave expatriataAgave falcata*
Agave falcata var.
espadina*
Agave falcata var.
microcarpaAgave felgeri – Mescalito
Agave felinaAgave fenzlianaAgave ferdinandi-regisAgave filifera – Thread-leaf Agave
*
Agave filifera subsp.
microcepsAgave flaccidaAgave flaccifoliaAgave flavovirensAgave flexispinaAgave fortifloraAgave fourcroydes Lemaire – Henequen, Maguey Henequen, Mexican Sisal (supplies henequen fiber)
*
Agave fourcroydes var. espiculataAgave fragrantissimaAgave franceschianaAgave franzosiniAgave fridericiAgave funiferaAgave funkiana – Ixtle de Jaumave (syn.
Agave lophanta)
Agave galeotteiAgave garciae-mendozaeAgave geminiflora*
Agave geminiflora var.
filiferaAgave gentryiAgave ghiesbrechtiiAgave glabraAgave glaucescensAgave goeppertianaAgave glomeruliflora (Engelm.) Berger – Chisos Mountain Century Plant, Maguey del Bravo
Agave gracilipes Trel. – Maguey de pastizal, Slimfoot Century Plant
Agave gracilisAgave grandibracteataAgave granulosaAgave grenadinaAgave grijalvensisAgave griseaAgave guadalajarana – Maguey chato
Agave guatemalensisAgave guedeneyriAgave guiengolaAgave gutierrezianaAgave guttataAgave gypsophilaAgave hanburiiAgave harrisiiAgave hartmaniAgave haseloffiiAgave hauniensisAgave havardiana Trel. – Havard's Century Plant, Chisos Agave, Maguey de Havard
Agave haynaldiAgave henriquesiiAgave hexapetalaAgave hiemifloraAgave hookeriAgave horizontalisAgave horridaAgave houghiiAgave huachucaensisAgave huehuetecaAgave humboldtianaAgave hurteriAgave impressaAgave inaequidensAgave inaguensisAgave indagatorumAgave ingensAgave inopinabilisAgave integrifoliaAgave intermixtaAgave intrepidaAgave isthmensisAgave jaiboliAgave jarucoensisAgave karattoAgave kellermanianaAgave kerchoveiAgave kewensisAgave kirchnerianaAgave lagunaeAgave langlasseiAgave laticinctaAgave latifoliaAgave laurentianaAgave laxaAgave laxifoliaAgave lecheguilla Torr. – Agave lechuguilla, Lecheguilla, Lechuguilla, Maguey lechuguilla (syn.
Agave heteracantha)
Agave lemaireiAgave lempanaAgave lespinasseiAgave lindleyiAgave littaeaoidesAgave longipesAgave longisepalaAgave lophantha Schiede – Maguey mezortillo, Thorncrest Century Plant
Agave luridaAgave macranthaAgave macroculmis (=
Agave gentryi) – Hardy Century Plant
Agave maculataAgave madagascariensisAgave mapisagaAgave margaritaeAgave marmorataAgave martianaAgave maximilianaAgave maximowiczianaAgave mayoensisAgave mckelveyana Gentry – Mckelvey Agave, McKelvey's Century Plant
Agave medioximaAgave megalacanthaAgave melanacanthaAgave mellifluaAgave mexicanaAgave micracanthaAgave millspaughiiAgave minarumAgave mirabilis See
Agave atrovirens var. mirabilisAgave missionum Trel. – Corita
Agave mitisAgave monostachyaAgave montanaAgave montserratensisAgave moraniiAgave morrisiiAgave muilmanniAgave mulfordianaAgave multifiliferaAgave multifloraAgave multilineataAgave murpheyi F. Gibson – Maguey Bandeado, Murphey Agave, Murphey's Century Plant, Hohokam Agave
Agave nashiiAgave nayaritensisAgave neglecta Small – Wild Century Plant
Agave nelsoniAgave nevadensisAgave nevidisAgave newberyiAgave nickelsiAgave nissoniAgave nizandensis – Dwarf Octopus Agave
Agave noli-tangereAgave obductaAgave oblongataAgave obscuraAgave ocahui*
Agave ocahui var.
longifoliaAgave offoyanaAgave oligophyllaAgave oliveranaAgave opacidensAgave orcuttianaAgave ornithobroma – Maguey pajarito
Agave oroensisAgave ovatifoliaAgave oweniAgave pachyacanthaAgave pachycentraAgave pacificaAgave pallidaAgave palmarisAgave palmeri Engelm. – Maguey de tlalcoyote, Palmer Agave, Palmer Century Plant, Palmer's Century Plant
Agave pampaninianaAgave panamanaAgave papyriocarpaAgave parryi Engelm. – Mezcal yapavai, Parry Agave, Parry's Agave
*
Agave parryi var.
truncataAgave parvidentataAgave parviflora Torr. – Maguey sbari, Smallflower Agave, Smallflower Century Plant, Little Princess Agave
*
Agave parviflora subsp.
flexifloraAgave patoniiAgave paucifoliaAgave pauperaAgave pavolinianaAgave peacockiiAgave pedrosanaAgave pedunculiferaAgave pelona – Bald Agave
Agave perplexansAgave pes-mulaeAgave petiolataAgave petrophilaAgave phillipsianaAgave pictaAgave planeraAgave polianthifloraAgave polianthoidesAgave portoricensis Trel. – Puerto Rico Century Plant
Agave potatorum – Drunkard Agave
 |
Agave potatorum at Kew Gardens, London, England |
Agave potosinaAgave potreranaAgave prainianaAgave promontoriiAgave prostrataAgave protuberansAgave pruinosaAgave pseudotequilanaAgave pugioniformisAgave pulcherrimaAgave pulchraAgave pumilaAgave punctataAgave purpureaAgave purpusorumAgave pygmaeAgave quadrataAgave quiotiferaAgave ragusaeAgave rasconensisAgave regiaAgave revolutaAgave rhodacanthaAgave rigidaAgave roezlianaAgave rudisAgave rupicola*
Agave rupicola var.
brevifolia*
Agave rupicola var.
longifolia*
Agave rupicola var.
rubridentataAgave rutteniaeAgave rzedowskianaAgave salmdyckiiAgave salmiana РPulque, Maguey, Maguey de monta̱a (syn.
Agave atrovirens)
*
Agave salmiana var.
angustifolia*
Agave salmiana var.
cochlearisAgave samalanaAgave sartoriiAgave scaphoideaAgave scaposaAgave scheuermanianaAgave schildigeraAgave schneiderianaAgave schottii Engelm. – Maguey puercoesp n, Schott Agave, Schott's Century Plant, Shindagger, Leather Agave
*
Agave schottii var.
serrulataAgave scolymus*
Agave scolymus var.
polymorphaAgave sebastianaAgave seemanniana*
Agave seemanniana var.
perscabraAgave serrulataAgave sessilifloraAgave shaferiAgave shawii Engelm. – Coastal Agave, Maguey primavera
Agave shrevei*
Agave shrevei ssp.
magna*
Agave shrevei ssp.
matapensisAgave sicaefoliaAgave simoniAgave sisalana Perrine – Maguey de Sisal, Sisal, Sisal Hemp (syn.
Furcraea sisaliana)
Agave slevinianaAgave smithianaAgave sobolifera*
Agave sobolifera f.
spinidentataAgave sobria*
Agave sobria ssp.
frailensisAgave sordidaAgave striata*
Agave striata var.
mesaeAgave strictaAgave stringensAgave subinermisAgave subsimplexAgave subtilisAgave subzonataAgave sullivaniAgave tectaAgave tenuifoliaAgave tenuispinaAgave teopiscanaAgave tequilana A. Weber – Mezcal azul tequilero, Tequila Agave, Weber Blue Agave (gives
tequila)
Agave terraccianoiAgave theometelAgave thomasaeAgave thomsonianaAgave tigrinaAgave titanotaAgave todaroiAgave tonelianaAgave tortispinaAgave toumeyana Trel. – Toumey Agave, Toumey's Century Plant
*
Agave toumeyana var.
bellaAgave trankeeraAgave troubetskoyanaAgave tubulata*
Agave tubulata ssp.
brevitubaAgave underwoodiiAgave unguiculataAgave utahensis Engelm. – Utah Agave
*
Agave utahensis var.
discretaAgave van-grolaeAgave vandervinneniAgave ventum-versaAgave vernaeAgave verschaffeltiiAgave vestitaAgave vicinaAgave victoriae-reginae – Queen Victoria's Agave
*
Agave victoriae-reginae f.
dentata*
Agave victoriae-reginae f.
latifolia*
Agave victoriae-reginae f.
longifolia*
Agave victoriae-reginae f.
longispina*
Agave victoriae-reginae f.
ornata*
Agave victoriae-reginae f.
stolonifera*
Agave victoriae-reginae f.
viridis*
Agave victoriae-reginae ssp.
swobodaeAgave vilmoriniana Berger – Octopus Agave
Agave viridissimaAgave vivipara*
Agave vivipara var.
cabaiensis*
Agave vivipara var.
cuebensisAgave vizcainoensisAgave wallisiiAgave warellianaAgave washingtonensisAgave watsoniAgave weberi Cels ex Poisson – Maguey liso, Weber's Century Plant, Weber Agave
Agave weingartiiAgave wendtiiAgave werckleiAgave wiesenbergensisAgave wightiiAgave wildingiiAgave winterianaAgave wislizeni |
Agave parrasana synonym Agave wislizeni |
Agave wocomahiAgave woodrowiAgave wrightiiAgave xylonacantha Salm-Dyck – Century Plant, Maguey diente de tiburn
Agave yaquianaAgave yuccaefolia*
Agave yuccifolia var.
caespitosaAgave zapupeAgave zebraAgave zonataAgave zuccarinii*
Howard Scott Gentry,
Agaves of Continental North America (University of Arizona Press, 1982), the standard work, with accounts of 136 species
*
IPNI : The International Plant Name Index*
Desert Tropicals Agave list*
Agave Nectar or Syrup*
Agave virginica (False Aloe) King's American Dispensatory @ Henriette's Herbal
*
Botanical Dermatology Database Information on agave contact dermatitis
