Agave abisaii
Agave abisaii
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 abisaii is an evergreen, stemless, succulent plant forming a rosette of leaves that can be 100cm tall and 150cm in diameter. Mature plants can produce around 9 - 11 spiny leaves that can each be 80 - 90cm long and 9 - 13cm wide near the base. After several years of growth, a flowering stem that can be 250 - 300cm tall is produced, after which the rosette will die. However, the plant usually produces a number of young plants around its base that will develop as new plants[ 1843 Title Four New Species of Agave (Agavaceae) of the Marmoratae Group Publication Systematic Botany (2013), 38(2): pp. 1-12 Author Vázquez-García J.A. et al Publisher Year 2013 ISBN Description ]. The plant is harvested in quantity for medicinal use[ 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. ]. Agave abisaii has a very small extent of occurrence, being found in only two locations, and faces a number of ongoing threats, such as collection of the entire plants for medicinal use, which cause a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals and the area of occupancy. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' 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. ].