Among members of genus Agave, has medium-size seeds and is an evergreen succulent plant with a rosette height of 25–51 m and diameter of 50–75 cm. Leaf width is 5–8 cm and length 20–36 cm. Leaves are light yellow-green, green, or blue-green. The flower stalk is 2.5–4m. Is a CAM plant, has strong xerotolerance, heat tolerance, and cold tolerance (capable of growing at −12°C or higher). It produces a large quantity of new bulbs. Propagation is performed by seeding and new bulbs.
The leaves contain toxic saponins and sapogenins. The indigenous peoples used the core as food.
References
Gentry, H.S. 1982. Agaves of Continental North America. The University of Texas Press, Tuscon, Arizona, USA.
Gibson, A.C. 1996. Structure-Function Relations of Warm Desert Plants.
Springer-Verlag, Berlin, Heidelberg, Germany.
Irish, M., Irish, G. 2000. Agave, Yuccas, and Related Plants: A Gardener's
Guide. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, USA.
