Agave victoriae-reginae

Taxobox
name = Queen Victoria's agave

---

image_width = 250px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Asparagales
familia = Agavaceae
genus = "Agave"
species = "A. victoriae-reginae"
binomial = "Agave victoriae-reginae"
binomial_authority = T. Moore 1875

Queen Victoria's agave ("Agave victoriae-reginae") is a small species of agave noted for its streaks of white on sculptured geometrical leaves, and popular as an ornamental. It is named for Queen Victoria.

This agave is highly variable in form, but in general the rosettes are small and compact, composed of short, rigid, thick leaves that are green with a pattern of distinctive white markings. The markings are generally along leaf keels or margins, giving a sort of polyhedral appearance. Marginal teeth are usually lacking, while the terminus of the leaf may include 1 to 3 spines, each 1.5-3 cm in length.

"A. victoriae-reginae" is found across the Chihuahuan Desert, with about a half-dozen subspecies named. The situation is complicated by hybrids with a number of other agave species.

It is cold-hardy as agaves go, and thus finds favor as a small accent in many northerly gardens.

References

* Howard Scott Gentry, "Agaves of Continental North America" (University of Arizona Press, 1982) pp. 183-185