Asparagaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Agave gracielae

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 gracielae is an evergreen, short-stemmed, succulent plant forming a rosette of leaves that can be 16 - 60cm tall and 35 - 75cm in diameter. Around 65 - 230 leaves are produced on mature plants each of which can be 13 - 55cm long and 12 - 15mm wide near the base. After several years of growth, a flowering stem that can be around 1.5 - 2.5 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 develop as new plants. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is also grown as an ornamental for which it is both harvested from the wild in very small quantities and also propagated from cultivated plants Even though Agave gracielae has a restricted range, it is abundant and there are no threats causing declines in the population. It also occurs with in a protected area. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' 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 - central Mexico (Querétaro, San Louis Postosí)

HabitatCalcareous rocks in pine, oak and cloud forests; at elevations from 1,200 - 2,400 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. ].