Asparagaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Agave sobria

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 sobria is an evergreen, clump-forming, succulent plant , often with a short stem, forming a rosette of leaves that can be up to 100cm tall and 50 - 150cm in diameter. The leaves on mature plants can each be 45 - 80cm long and 5 - 10cm wide near the base. After several years of growth, a flowering stem that can be around 2.5 - 4 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[ 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 ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, and is also used in the production of mezcal[ 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. ]. It is grown locally as an ornamental[ 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 sobria has a relatively wide range, is common, has no threats and it occurs within a protected area. Agave sobria ssp. frailensis has a very restricted range in an area where recreation or holiday residences have been built, this subspecies would benefit from monitoring. A second subspecies, A. sobria ssp. roseana occurs in the islands of San José, Espíritu Santo and Cerralvo which are heavily affected by feral goats that eat the agaves. The species as a whole is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 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 - northwest Mexico (Baja California Sur)

HabitatSarcocaulescent scrub on volcanic and in a few exceptions, on granitic soil, favouring growth on shadier, northern slopes in canyons; at elevations from sea level to 1,000 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. ]