Among members of genus Agave, has huge seeds and is an evergreen succulent plant with a rosette height of 1.5–3 m and width of 2–4 m. Leaf width is 25–40 cm, length 150–200 cm, and is green to pale blue-green color. Large ones have up to 80–100 leaves. The flower stalk is 8–12m. Propagation is performed by seeding or bulbils (adventitious buds developing in the axilla). Is xerotolerant and has strong cold tolerance (can grow at −9°C or higher). It is a CAM plant.
The sap collected from the holes formed by piercing the flower buds is used as a drink (aguamiel), and fermented and used as pulque (local Mexican alcoholic beverage). It is planted as reinforcement for field and as hedges.
Uses:
Sap (beverage), cuticular layer of leaf (tortilla wrap), leaf (animal feed, fuel, medicine, fiber, soap), core (syrup)
References
Gentry, H.S. 1982. Agaves of Continental North America. The University of Texas Press, Tuscon, Arizona, USA.
Lira, R., Casas, A., Rosas-López, R., Paredes-Flores, M., Pérez-Negrón,
E., Rangel-Landa, S., Solís, L., Torres, I., Dávila, P. 2009. Traditional
knowledge and useful plant richness in the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Valley. Mexico.
Economic Botany. 9: 271–287.
Tull, D. 2013. Edible and Useful Plants of the Southwest: Texas, New Mexico,
and Arizona. Revised Edition. University of Texas Press, Austin, Texas,
USA.
