Agave americana
Agave fourcroydes
Agave sisalana
many others, see text

For the queen of Greek mythology, see Agave (mythology).

Agaves are succulent plants of a large botanical genus of the same name, belonging to the family Agavaceae. Chiefly Mexican, they occur also in the southern and western United States and in central and tropical South America. The plants have a large rosette of thick fleshy leaves generally ending in a sharp point and with a spiny margin; the stout stem is usually short, the leaves apparently springing from the root.

They grow slowly and flower but once after a number of years, when a tall stem or "mast" grows from the centre of the leaf rosette and bears a large number of shortly tubular flowers. After development of fruit the plant dies down, but suckers are frequently produced from the base of the stem which become new plants.

The most familiar species is Agave americana, a native of tropical America, the so-called Century Plant or American aloe (the maguey of Mexico). The number of years before flowering occurs depends on the vigour 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. 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. The leaves of several species yield fibre, as for instance, Agave rigida var. sisalana, sisal hemp, Agave decipiens, False Sisal Hemp; Agave americana is the source of pita fibre, and is used as a fibre 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. In India the plant is extensively used for hedges along railroads.

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 centre 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 to be protected from frost. They mature very slowly and die after flowering, but are easily propagated by the offsets from the base of the stem.

Agave nectar has been used as an alternative to sugar in cooking.

Contents

1 Taxonomy 2 Species 3 Reference 4 External links

Taxonomy

At one point agaves and Amaryllis were placed among the Liliaceae, but have now definitely been placed in a separate order, the Asparagales; however Agave and related forms have by most recent sources, notably Judd et al, been placed in a family Agavaceae separate from the Amaryllidaceae.

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 agaves really became popular in Europe during the 19th century, with many types being brought 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.

Species

• Agave aboriginum
• Agave abortiva
• Agave abrupta
• Agave acicularis
• Agave acklinicola
• Agave affinis

• Agave × ajoensis = Agave schottii var. schottii × Agave deserti var. simplex
• Agave aktites
• Agave albescens
• Agave albomarginata
• Agave alibertii
• Agave aloides
• Agave amaniensis
• Agave 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

• Agave angustiarum
• Agave angustifolia Haw. – Century plant, Maguey espad n
• Agave angustissima
• Agave anomala
• Agave antillarum
  • Agave antillarum var. grammontensis
• Agave applanata
• Agave arizonica Gentry & J.H. Weber – Arizona Agave, Arizona Century Plant
• Agave arubensis
• Agave aspera
• Agave asperrima Jacobi – Maguey spero, Rough Century Plant
• Agave attenuata – Swan's Neck Agave, Dragon Tree Agave, Foxtail Agave
• Agave aurea

• Agave avellanidens
• Agave bahamana
• Agave bakeri
• Agave banlan
• Agave barbadensis
• Agave baxteri
• Agave bergeri
• Agave bernhardi
• Agave boldinghiana
• Agave bollii
• Agave botterii
• Agave bouchei
• Agave bourgaei
• Agave bovicornuta – Cowhorn Agave
• Agave braceana
• Agave brachystachys
• Agave bracteosa – Squid Agave
• Agave brandegeei
• Agave brauniana
• Agave breedlovei
• Agave brevipetala
• Agave breviscapa
• Agave brevispina
• Agave brittonia
• Agave bromeliaefolia
• Agave brunnea
• Agave bulbifera
• Agave cacozela
• Agave cajalbanensis
• Agave calderoni
• Agave calodonta
• Agave campanulata
• Agave cantala Roxb. – cantala, Maguey de la India (supplies Manila-Maquey fibre)
• Agave capensis
• Agave carchariodonta
• Agave caribaea
• Agave caribiicola
• Agave carminis
• Agave caroli-schmidtii
• Agave celsii
• Agave cernua
• Agave cerulata
  • Agave cerulata ssp. subcerulata
• Agave chiapensis (syn. Agave polyacantha)
• Agave chihuahuana
• Agave chinensis
• Agave chisosensis
• Agave chloracantha
• Agave chrysantha Peebles – Golden Flowered Agave, Golden Flower Century Plant
• Agave chrysoglossa
• Agave coccinea
• Agave cocui
• Agave coespitosa
• Agave colimana
• Agave collina
• Agave colorata – Mescal ceniza
• Agave compacta
• Agave complicata
• Agave compluviata
• Agave concinna
• Agave congesta
• Agave conjuncta
• Agave connochaetodon
• Agave consociata
• Agave convallis
• Agave corderoyi
• Agave costaricana
• Agave cucullata
• Agave cundinamarcensis
• Agave cupreata
• Agave dasyliriodes
• Agave datylio
• Agave davilloni
• Agave de-meesteriana
• Agave dealbata
• Agave deamiana
• Agave debilis
• Agave decaisneana
• Agave decipiens Baker – False Sisal
• Agave delamateri W.C. Hodgson & L. Slauson
• Agave densiflora
• Agave dentiens
• Agave deserti Engelm. – Desert Century Plant, Desert Agave, Maguey de Desierto
  • Agave deserti ssp. simplex
• Agave desmettiana Jacobi – Dwarf Century Plant, Smooth Agave (syn. A. miradorensis)
• Agave diacantha
• Agave difformis
• Agave disceptata
• Agave disjuncta
• Agave dissimulans
• Agave donnell-smithii
• Agave durangensis
• Agave dussiana
• Agave eborispina
• Agave eduardi
• Agave eggersiana Trel. – Eggers' Century Plant, St. Croix Agave
• Agave ehrenbergii
• Agave eichlami
• Agave ekmani
• Agave elizae
• Agave ellemeetiana
• Agave endlichiana
• Agave engelmanni
• Agave entea
• Agave erosa
• Agave evadens
• Agave excelsa
• Agave expatriata
• Agave falcata
  • Agave falcata var. espadina
  • Agave falcata var. microcarpa
• Agave felgeri – Mescalito
• Agave felina
• Agave fenzliana
• Agave ferdinandi-regis
• Agave filifera – Thread-leaf Agave
  • Agave filifera subsp. microceps
• Agave flaccida
• Agave flaccifolia
• Agave flavovirens
• Agave flexispina
• Agave fortiflora
• Agave fourcroydes Lemaire – Henequen, Maguey Henequen, Mexican Sisal (supplies henequen fibre)
  • Agave fourcroydes var. espiculata
• Agave fragrantissima
• Agave franceschiana
• Agave franzosini
• Agave friderici
• Agave funifera
• Agave funkiana – Ixtle de Jaumave (syn. Agave lophanta)
• Agave galeottei
• Agave garciae-mendozae
• Agave geminiflora
  • Agave geminiflora var. filifera
• Agave gentryi
• Agave ghiesbrechtii
• Agave glabra
• Agave glaucescens
• Agave goeppertiana
• Agave glomeruliflora (Engelm.) Berger – Chisos Mountain Century Plant, Maguey del Bravo
• Agave gracilipes Trel. – Maguey de pastizal, Slimfoot Century Plant
• Agave gracilis
• Agave grandibracteata
• Agave granulosa
• Agave grenadina
• Agave grijalvensis
• Agave grisea
• Agave guadalajarana – Maguey chato
• Agave guatemalensis
• Agave guedeneyri
• Agave guiengola
• Agave gutierreziana
• Agave guttata
• Agave gypsophila
• Agave hanburii
• Agave harrisii
• Agave hartmani
• Agave haseloffii
• Agave hauniensis
• Agave havardiana Trel. – Havard's Century Plant, Chisos Agave, Maguey de Havard
• Agave haynaldi
• Agave henriquesii
• Agave hexapetala
• Agave hiemiflora
• Agave hookeri
• Agave horizontalis
• Agave horrida
• Agave houghii
• Agave huachucaensis
• Agave huehueteca
• Agave humboldtiana
• Agave hurteri
• Agave impressa
• Agave inaequidens
• Agave inaguensis
• Agave indagatorum
• Agave ingens
• Agave inopinabilis
• Agave integrifolia
• Agave intermixta
• Agave intrepida
• Agave isthmensis
• Agave jaiboli
• Agave jarucoensis
• Agave karatto
• Agave kellermaniana
• Agave kerchovei
• Agave kewensis
• Agave kirchneriana
• Agave lagunae
• Agave langlassei
• Agave laticincta
• Agave latifolia
• Agave laurentiana
• Agave laxa
• Agave laxifolia
• Agave lechuguilla Torr. – Agave lechuguilla, Lecheguilla, Lechuguilla, Maguey lechuguilla (syn. Agave heteracantha)
• Agave lemairei
• Agave lempana
• Agave lespinassei
• Agave lindleyi
• Agave littaeaoides
• Agave longipes
• Agave longisepala
• Agave lophantha Schiede – Maguey mezortillo, Thorncrest Century Plant
• Agave lurida
• Agave macrantha
• Agave macroculmis (= Agave gentryi) – Hardy Century Plant
• Agave maculata
• Agave madagascariensis
• Agave mapisaga
• Agave margaritae
• Agave marmorata
• Agave martiana
• Agave maximiliana
• Agave maximowicziana
• Agave mayoensis
• Agave mckelveyana Gentry – Mckelvey Agave, McKelvey's Century Plant
• Agave medioxima
• Agave megalacantha
• Agave melanacantha
• Agave melliflua
• Agave mexicana
• Agave micracantha
• Agave millspaughii
• Agave minarum
• Agave mirabilis
• Agave missionum Trel. – Corita
• Agave mitis
• Agave monostachya
• Agave montana
• Agave montserratensis
• Agave moranii
• Agave morrisii
• Agave muilmanni
• Agave mulfordiana
• Agave multifilifera
• Agave multiflora
• Agave multilineata
• Agave murpheyi F. Gibson – Maguey Bandeado, Murphey Agave, Murphey's Century Plant, Hohokam Agave
• Agave nashii
• Agave nayaritensis
• Agave neglecta Small – Wild Century Plant
• Agave nelsoni
• Agave nevadensis
• Agave nevidis
• Agave newberyi
• Agave nickelsi
• Agave nissoni
• Agave nizandensis – Dwarf Octopus Agave
• Agave noli-tangere
• Agave obducta
• Agave oblongata
• Agave obscura
• Agave ocahui
  • Agave ocahui var. longifolia
• Agave offoyana
• Agave oligophylla
• Agave oliverana
• Agave opacidens
• Agave orcuttiana
• Agave ornithobroma – Maguey pajarito
• Agave oroensis
• Agave ovatifolia
• Agave oweni
• Agave pachyacantha
• Agave pachycentra
• Agave pacifica
• Agave pallida
• Agave palmaris
• Agave palmeri Engelm. – Maguey de tlalcoyote, Palmer Agave, Palmer Century Plant, Palmer's Century Plant
• Agave pampaniniana
• Agave panamana
• Agave papyriocarpa
• Agave parryi Engelm. – Mezcal yapavai, Parry Agave, Parry's Agave
  • Agave parryi var. truncata
• Agave parvidentata
• Agave parviflora Torr. – Maguey sbari, Smallflower Agave, Smallflower Century Plant, Little Princess Agave
  • Agave parviflora subsp. flexiflora
• Agave patonii
• Agave paucifolia
• Agave paupera
• Agave pavoliniana
• Agave peacockii
• Agave pedrosana
• Agave pedunculifera
• Agave pelona – Bald Agave
• Agave perplexans
• Agave pes-mulae
• Agave petiolata
• Agave petrophila
• Agave phillipsiana
• Agave picta
• Agave planera
• Agave polianthiflora
• Agave polianthoides
• Agave portoricensis Trel. – Puerto Rico Century Plant
• Agave potatorum – Drunkard Agave
• Agave potosina
• Agave potrerana
• Agave prainiana
• Agave promontorii
• Agave prostrata
• Agave protuberans
• Agave pruinosa
• Agave pseudotequilana
• Agave pugioniformis
• Agave pulcherrima
• Agave pulchra
• Agave pumila
• Agave punctata
• Agave purpurea
• Agave purpusorum
• Agave pygmae
• Agave quadrata
• Agave quiotifera
• Agave ragusae
• Agave rasconensis
• Agave regia
• Agave revoluta
• Agave rhodacantha
• Agave rigida
• Agave roezliana
• Agave rudis
• Agave rupicola
  • Agave rupicola var. brevifolia
  • Agave rupicola var. longifolia
  • Agave rupicola var. rubridentata
• Agave rutteniae
• Agave rzedowskiana
• Agave salmdyckii
• Agave salmiana – Pulque, Maguey, Maguey de montaña (syn. Agave atrovirens)
  • Agave salmiana var. angustifolia
  • Agave salmiana var. cochlearis
• Agave samalana
• Agave sartorii
• Agave scaphoidea
• Agave scaposa
• Agave scheuermaniana
• Agave schildigera
• Agave schneideriana
• Agave schottii Engelm. – Maguey puercoesp n, Schott Agave, Schott's Century Plant, Shindagger, Leather Agave
  • Agave schottii var. serrulata
• Agave scolymus
  • Agave scolymus var. polymorpha
• Agave sebastiana
• Agave seemanniana
  • Agave seemanniana var. perscabra
• Agave serrulata
• Agave sessiliflora
• Agave shaferi
• Agave shawii Engelm. – Coastal Agave, Maguey primavera
• Agave shrevei
  • Agave shrevei ssp. magna
  • Agave shrevei ssp. matapensis
• Agave sicaefolia
• Agave simoni
• Agave sisalana Perrine – Maguey de Sisal, Sisal, Sisal Hemp (syn. Furcraea sisaliana)
• Agave sleviniana
• Agave smithiana
• Agave sobolifera
  • Agave sobolifera f. spinidentata
• Agave sobria
  • Agave sobria ssp. frailensis
• Agave sordida
• Agave striata
  • Agave striata var. mesae
• Agave stricta
• Agave stringens
• Agave subinermis
• Agave subsimplex
• Agave subtilis
• Agave subzonata
• Agave sullivani
• Agave tecta
• Agave tenuifolia
• Agave tenuispina
• Agave teopiscana
• Agave tequilana A. Weber – Mezcal azul tequilero, Tequila Agave, Weber Blue Agave (gives tequila)
• Agave terraccianoi
• Agave theometel
• Agave thomasae
• Agave thomsoniana
• Agave tigrina
• Agave titanota
• Agave todaroi
• Agave toneliana
• Agave tortispina
• Agave toumeyana Trel. – Toumey Agave, Toumey's Century Plant
  • Agave toumeyana var. bella
• Agave trankeera
• Agave troubetskoyana
• Agave tubulata
  • Agave tubulata ssp. brevituba
• Agave underwoodii
• Agave unguiculata
• Agave utahensis Engelm. – Utah Agave
  • Agave utahensis var. discreta
• Agave van-grolae
• Agave vandervinneni
• Agave ventum-versa
• Agave vernae
• Agave verschaffeltii
• Agave vestita
• Agave vicina
• Agave 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. swobodae
• Agave vilmoriniana Berger – Octopus Agave
• Agave viridissima
• Agave vivipara
  • Agave vivipara var. cabaiensis
  • Agave vivipara var. cuebensis
• Agave vizcainoensis
• Agave wallisii
• Agave warelliana
• Agave washingtonensis
• Agave watsoni
• Agave weberi Cels ex Poisson – Maguey liso, Weber's Century Plant, Weber Agave
• Agave weingartii
• Agave wendtii
• Agave wercklei
• Agave wiesenbergensis
• Agave wightii
• Agave wildingii
• Agave winteriana
• Agave wislizeni
• Agave wocomahi
• Agave woodrowi
• Agave wrightii
• Agave xylonacantha Salm-Dyck – Century Plant, Maguey diente de tiburn
• Agave yaquiana
• Agave yuccaefolia
  • Agave yuccifolia var. caespitosa
• Agave zapupe
• Agave zebra
• Agave zonata
• Agave zuccarinii

Reference

• 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

External links

• Desert Tropicals Agave list
• Agave Nectar or Syrup
• Agave virginica (False Aloe) King's American Dispensatory @ Henriette's Herbal