Asparagaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Agave vilmoriniana

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

The plant contains toxins (probably saponins) that are used to sturefy fish[ 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. ]. 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 vilmoriniana is an evergreen, succulent plant forming a short trunk topped by a rosette of leaves that can be 100cm tall and 200cm in diameter. The leaves on mature plants can each be 90 - 180cm long and 7 - 10cm wide near the base. After several years of growth, a flowering stem that can be up to 3 - 5 metres tall is produced, after which the rosette will die[1842. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a soap and to make brushes. These brushes have been observed on sale in local markets along the west coast of Mexico[ 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 vilmoriniana is also used as an ornamental plant[ 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 vilmoriniana has a wide range. Even though its habitat is threatened by cattle ranching, it is abundant and the overall population is stable. It also occurs in protected areas. 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

Origintemperate

Native RangeSouthwest N. America - north and west Mexico (Sonora, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Durango, Nayarit, Jalisco and Zacatecas)

HabitatTropical deciduous forests and oak forests, growing on volcanic brecciated cliffs of the barrancas, in larger and deeper canyons, often forming extensive vertical colonies; at elevations from 850 - 1,850 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. ].