Scientific name:Agave potatorum (A. potatorum var. verschaffeltii)
Country of origin: Mexico (Puebla, Oaxaca)
Description
Among members of genus Agave, has small seeds and may be seen alone in its natural habitat. The morphology is rich in mutation, and ranges from having no stalk with a 50- to 80- leaf system to a short stalk with more than 100 leaves. The leaf color is light green gray to green or white. Leaf width is 9–18 cm and length 25–40 cm; leaves are egg-shaped, elliptical, short lanceolate. It has large grayish brown serrated teeth on the edges. The flower stalk is 3–6m. It grows naturally in semi-arid areas at an altitude of 1,240–2,300 m. It has poor frost tolerance. Propagation is performed by seeding.
Indigenous people used it as a raw material for the Mexican distilled liquor mezcal.
Uses:
Core (beverages)
References
Gentry, H.S. 1982. Agaves of Continental North America. The University
of Texas Press, Tuscon, Arizona, USA.
Irish, M., Irish, G. 2000. Agave, Yuccas, and Related Plants: A Gardener’s
Guide. Timber Press, Portland, Oregon, USA.
