Asparagaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Agave cocui

Edibility

4/5

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 cocui is an evergreen, stemless, succulent plant forming a rosette of leaves that can be around 250cm in diameter. The leaves on mature plants can each be 100 - 120cm long and 20 - 30cm wide near the base. After several years of growth, a flowering stem that can be around 6 - 8 metres tall is produced, after which the rosette will die. However, the plant usually produces a number of young plants around its base that will continue to grow after the death of the parent plant. The plant is harvested from the wild for its good quality fibre and also for making a fermented beverage known as 'Cocuy de Penca'. This beverage has become popular in Venezuela, where it is traded nationally, and small-scale cultivation of the plant has been taking place since around 2000[ 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 cocui has a wide range; even though subpopulations in parts of its range are heavily harvested for the production of the beverage 'cocuy de penca' and are likely to be driven to extirpation, the species has large stable subpopulations in the Venezuelan Andean region and the western part of the country. In Colombia the species could qualify as Vulnerable, given that there is an estimated national population of less than 10,000 mature individuals, small subpopulations and a continuing decline caused by unsustainable harvest of the species, wood extraction and the increment of small scale agriculture on its habitat. Globally, the plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2020)[ 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 RangeNorthern S. America - Colombia, Venezuela.

HabitatArid and semiarid habitats, in tropical dry forest and xerophyllous scrub, on colluvial material and outcrops on canyon cliffs; at elevations from near sea level to 1,700 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. ].