Agave deserti

Taxobox
name = Desert Agave

---

image_width = 250px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Liliopsida
ordo = Asparagales
familia = Agavaceae
genus = Agave
species = "A. deserti"
binomial = "Agave deserti"
binomial_authority = Engelm.

"Agave deserti" (Desert Agave, Mescal, Century Plant or Maguey) is an agave native to desert regions in southern California, Arizona, and Baja California. Its tall yellow flower stalks dot dry rocky slopes and washes throughout the spring.

It forms a rosette of fleshy gray-green leaves 20-70 cm long and 4.5-10 cm broad, with sharp spines along the edges and at the tips. It flowers at maturity (20-40 yrsDole 1996, pg. 57] ), sending up an inflorescence 2-6 m tall. The panicle bears numerous yellow, funnel-shaped flowers 3-6 cm long.

There are two varieties:
*"Agave deserti" var. "deserti". Plants usually with numerous rosettes; perianth tube 3-5 mm. Southern California only.
*"Agave deserti" var. "simplex" (Gentry) W.C.Hodgson & Reveal. Plants usually with one or only a few rosettes; perianth tube 5-10 mm. Southern California and Arizona.

Cultivation and uses

The Desert Agave is drought tolerant but requires good drainage.

The desert dwelling Indians used fibers from the leaves to make cloth, bowstrings, and rope. Young flower stalks (roasted), buds, and hearts of plants (also roasted) were eaten. Natives of southern California commonly harvested the "heads" using a specialized digging stick and roasted the leaves and heart alike. Food thus obtained often became a dietary staple, even into drought years.

Alcoholic drinks were also manufactured from the sweet juices of this and other agaves.

References

ources

* [http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242101305 Flora of North America: "Agave deserti"]
* [http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Agave%20deserti Jepson Flora Project: "Agave deserti"]
* Dole, Jim W. and Rose, "Betty B., Shrubs and Trees of the Southern California Deserts", 1996, Foot-Loose Press.