Asparagaceae FAMILY

Agave paniculata

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

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 paniculata is a freely suckering, herbaceous perennial, producing clusters of sometimes short-stemmed (to 40cm) rosettes from a thick, succulent rootstock. Around 20 - 70 leaves are produced on mature rosettes, with individual leaves around 20 - 55cm long and 2 - 10cm wide. The flowering stems can be 175 - 300cm tall, often producing bulbils as well as flowers. The plant is semi-evergreen, with most leaves dying in the dry season[ 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 , 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 ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. The species is often cultivated in Mexican villages far from the natural populations, both for its medicinal benefits and as an ornamental[ 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 ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeSouthern N. America - southern Mexico (northeast Yucatán)

HabitatOpen habitats with limestone rocks in secondary tropical subdeciduous forests, often associated with sinkholes ('cenotes') or lakes; at elevations from 5 - 130 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 ].