Agave funkiana
Agave funkiana
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 funkiana is an evergreen, stemless, succulent plant forming an open rosette of leaves that can be 60 - 90cm tall and 120 - 180cm in diameter. The leaves on mature plants can each be 60 - 80cm long and 35 - 55mm wide near the base. After several years of growth, a flowering stem that can be around 3.5 - 4.5 metres tall is produced, after which the rosette will die. However, the plant usually suckers freely and these will continue growing[ 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 and has also been cultivated, for use as a source of fibre. In the past, this species was harvested heavily on a commercial basis for its fibre, known as 'ixtle' and also as 'Tampico fibre'. However, since the substitution of natural fibres by plastic the demand for this plant has decreased[ 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. ]. The plant is also used to make the drink 'mezcal', and is often grown as an ornamental - there are some named selections[ 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 ]. Agave funkiana has a wide range, is abundant and even though the species is collected from the wild to produce fibres, the decline is very slow and the overall popualtion 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. ].