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Useful Tropical Plants

Agave quiotepecensis

García-Mend. & S.Franco

Asparagaceae


The genus Agave is treated here in a wide sense to include taxa previously treated as belonging to the genera Manfreda, Prochnyanthes, Polianthes and Pseudobravoa. Not all botanists are happy with this treatment, with some feeling that these genera should remain distinct, at least until further studies have been carried out. In addition, given the high species diversity found in Agave, some feel that an alternative approach could be the recognition of several smaller genera within the current circumscription of Agave[
1855
Title
Two new species of Manfreda Salisb. (Agavaceae) from the Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
Publication
Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 135(2), 2008, pp. 168-177
Author
Hernández-Sandoval L., Orellana R. & Carnevali G.
Website
http://dx.doi.org/10.3159/08-RA-023.1
Publisher
 
Year
2008
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

+ Synonyms

Common Name: Rabo de León

No Image.

General Information

Agave quiotepecensis is an evergreen, stemless, succulent plant forming a rosette of leaves that can be 150cm tall and 200 - 250cm in diameter. Around 40 - 70 leaves are produced on mature plants, each of which can be 70 - 90cm long and 10 - 20cm wide near the base. After several years of growth, a flowering stem that can be around 4 - 5 metres tall is produced, after which the rosette will die[
1844
Title
Agave Agavaceae
Publication
Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons, pp 21-311
Author
Thiede J.
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-56486-8_111
Publisher
Springer Nature
Year
2020
ISBN
 
Description
 
]..
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of fibre.
Agave quiotepecensis has a restricted distribution and is only known in three locations. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[
1854
Title
Cuatro especies nuevas de Agave (Asparagaceae, Agavoideae) del sur de México
Publication
Acta Botanica Mexicana 126: e1461, 2019
Author
García-Mendoza A.J. et al
Website
http://10.21829/abm126.2019.1461
Publisher
 
Year
2019
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Known Hazards

Many Agave species have strong, sharp spines on the leaves and leaf tips.
In theory at least, the flowers, nectar, immature flowering stem and the centre of the rosette of all Agave species is edible and, with proper preparation, can provide a sweet, tasty foodstuff. Some species, however, contain relatively high levels of saponins (which makes them taste bitter) and some other compounds which can cause bellyache, and so these would only be eaten in times of desperation. In addition, many people may find these foods to be strongly laxative the first few times they eat them[
1846
Title
The Agaves of Baja California
Publication
Occasional Papers of the California Academy of Sciences, No. 130,
Author
Gentry H.S.
Publisher
California Academy of Sciences; San Francisco
Year
1978
ISBN
0068-5461
Description
 
].

Botanical References

1844
Title
Agave Agavaceae
Publication
Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons, pp 21-311
Author
Thiede J.
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-56486-8_111
Publisher
Springer Nature
Year
2020
ISBN
 
Description
 
,
1854
Title
Cuatro especies nuevas de Agave (Asparagaceae, Agavoideae) del sur de México
Publication
Acta Botanica Mexicana 126: e1461, 2019
Author
García-Mendoza A.J. et al
Website
http://10.21829/abm126.2019.1461
Publisher
 
Year
2019
ISBN
 
Description
 

Range

Southern N. America - southwestern Mexico (northern Oaxaca)

Habitat

On sandy reddish soils in low tropical deciduous forests; at elevations from 525 - 845 metres[
1844
Title
Agave Agavaceae
Publication
Illustrated Handbook of Succulent Plants: Monocotyledons, pp 21-311
Author
Thiede J.
Website
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-662-56486-8_111
Publisher
Springer Nature
Year
2020
ISBN
 
Description
 
]

Properties

Conservation StatusNear Threatened
Edibility Rating *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitEvergreen Perennial
Height1.50 m
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

Agave species are found mainly in the arid and semi-arid regions of southwestern N. America, especially in Mexico, extending from the warm temperate zone to the tropics often at moderate elevations. Many species can withstand at least a few degrees of frost, but only in drier regions and where soils are very well-drained.
Agave species generally require a sunny position, succeeding in most soils of medium-fertility so long as they are very well-drained. Most species are undemanding as to the soil pH, though those found in the wild on limestone soils will grow better in neutral to alkaline conditions. Plants are generally very tolerant of dry conditions and of extended periods of drought[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Most Agave species are monocarpic, individual rosettes living for a number of years without flowering before sending up an often very large flowering stem and then dying after flowering and setting seed.
Individual plants take about 7 - 15 years in their native habitat, considerably longer in colder climates, before flowering[
11
Title
Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
Publication
 
Author
Bean. W.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1981
ISBN
-
Description
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
].
Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[
233
Title
Perennial Garden Plants
Publication
 
Author
Thomas. G. S.
Publisher
J. M. Dent & Sons, London.
Year
1990
ISBN
0 460 86048 8
Description
A concise guide to a wide range of perennials. Lots of cultivation guides, very little on plant uses.
].

Edible Uses

Flower buds - cooked[
1854
Title
Cuatro especies nuevas de Agave (Asparagaceae, Agavoideae) del sur de México
Publication
Acta Botanica Mexicana 126: e1461, 2019
Author
García-Mendoza A.J. et al
Website
http://10.21829/abm126.2019.1461
Publisher
 
Year
2019
ISBN
 
Description
 
]. Known as 'cacayas', they are consumed as a vegetable[
1854
Title
Cuatro especies nuevas de Agave (Asparagaceae, Agavoideae) del sur de México
Publication
Acta Botanica Mexicana 126: e1461, 2019
Author
García-Mendoza A.J. et al
Website
http://10.21829/abm126.2019.1461
Publisher
 
Year
2019
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

A fibre obtained from the dried leaves is used for making ropes[
1854
Title
Cuatro especies nuevas de Agave (Asparagaceae, Agavoideae) del sur de México
Publication
Acta Botanica Mexicana 126: e1461, 2019
Author
García-Mendoza A.J. et al
Website
http://10.21829/abm126.2019.1461
Publisher
 
Year
2019
ISBN
 
Description
 
].

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a container in a light position. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 15 - 20°c[
133
Title
Growing from Seed. Volume 1.
Publication
 
Author
Rice. G. (Editor)
Publisher
Thompson and Morgan.
Year
1987
ISBN
-
Description
Very readable magazine with lots of information on propagation.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of well-drained soil when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position until they are at least 10cm tall before planting out.
Offsets and suckers can be potted up at any time they are available.
Bulbils, where produced, are an easy method of propagation. Simply pot them up and plant out at the beginning of a growing season when they are 10cm or more tall.
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-12. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Agave+quiotepecensis>

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