Asparagaceae FAMILY Critically Endangered

Agave valenciana

Edibility

3/5

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 valenciana is an evergreen, short-stemmed, succulent plant forming a rosette of leaves that can be 170 - 220cm tall and 270 - 330cm in diameter. Around 7 - 15 leaves are produced on mature plants, each of which can be 150 - 230cm long and up to 30cm wide near the base (45cm near the middle). After several years of growth, a flowering stem that can be around 5 - 7 metres tall is produced, after which the rosette will die[ 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 ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use in making the alcoholic beverage mezcal. It is also grown as an ornamental. Agave valenciana has a very small extent of occurrence and area of occupancy, it is known from only one location and the very small population is facing over-collection to satisfy an increasing demand for mezcal production. The plant is classified as 'Critically 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. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeSouthwestern N. America - western Mexico (Jalisco)

HabitatSteep slopes of basaltic rock in canyons, in the ecotone of tropical deciduous forests with temperate oak forests; at elevations from 900 - 1,250 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. , 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 ].