Asparagaceae FAMILY Vulnerable

Agave peacockii

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & 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 Description

Agave peacockii is an evergreen, stemless, succulent plant forming a rosette of leaves that can be 100 - 170cm tall and 150 - 200cm in diameter. Mature plants can produce around 20 - 60 spiny leaves that can each be up to 140cm long and 12 - 20cm wide near the base. After several years of growth, a flowering stem that can be up to 6 metres tall is produced, after which the rosette will die[ 1207 Title Flora del Valle de Tehuacán-Cuicatlán Publication Author Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/bibliography/118975#/summary Publisher Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México Year 1993 - 2015 ISBN 968-36-3108-8 Description An excellent flora (in Spanish) of the Tehuacán-Cuicatlán biosphere reserve in southeastern Mexico. It can be downloaded from the Internet ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use to make the distilled drink 'mezcal', and also as a source of fibre. Agave peacockii has a relatively small distribution and extent of occurrence. It is known from two to three locations where the small isolated subpopulations are affected by agriculture and farming which cause a continuing decline in the quality of the habitat and number of mature individuals. The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeSouthern N. America - southwest Mexico (Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla)

HabitatTropical dry forests and shrublands, growing on dry, calcareous stony hills among shrubs and tree cactus; at elevations from 1,150 - 2,200 metres[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]