Agave - Revision history

Agave at 14:38, 12 May 2011

2011-05-12T14:38:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:38, 12 May 2011
Line 17:		Line 17:
	}}		}}
	Chiefly [[Mexico\|Mexican]], agaves occur also in the southern and western [[United States]] and in central and tropical [[South America]]. They are [[Succulent plant\|succulents]] with a large [[Rosette (botany)\|rosette]] of thick fleshy leaves, each ending generally in a sharp point and with a spiny margin; the stout stem is usually short, the leaves apparently springing from the root. Along with plants from the related genus ''[[Yucca]]'', various ''Agave'' species are popular [[ornamental plant]]s.		Chiefly [[Mexico\|Mexican]], agaves occur also in the southern and western [[United States]] and in central and tropical [[South America]]. They are [[Succulent plant\|succulents]] with a large [[Rosette (botany)\|rosette]] of thick fleshy leaves, each ending generally in a sharp point and with a spiny margin; the stout stem is usually short, the leaves apparently springing from the root. Along with plants from the related genus ''[[Yucca]]'', various ''Agave'' species are popular [[ornamental plant]]s.
	~~[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Op onderneming Bendoredjo worden bossen agave per spoor vervoert Kediri Oost-Java TMnr 10011411.jpg\|thumb\|left\|Agave harvesting in Java.]]~~
	Each rosette is [[monocarpic]] and grows slowly to flower only once. During flowering, a tall stem or "mast" grows from the center of the leaf rosette and bears a large number of shortly tubular flowers. After development of fruit, the original plant dies, but [[Basal shoot\|sucker]]s are frequently produced from the base of the stem, which become new plants.		Each rosette is [[monocarpic]] and grows slowly to flower only once. During flowering, a tall stem or "mast" grows from the center of the leaf rosette and bears a large number of shortly tubular flowers. After development of fruit, the original plant dies, but [[Basal shoot\|sucker]]s are frequently produced from the base of the stem, which become new plants.

Agave at 14:31, 12 May 2011

2011-05-12T14:31:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:31, 12 May 2011
Line 1:		Line 1:
	{{SPlantbox		{{SPlantbox
	\|familia=Agavaceae		\|familia=Agavaceae
	\|genus=Agave		\|genus=Agave
			\|common_name=Agave
			\|habit=cacti-succulent
			\|poisonous=Some species juice cause rash
			\|lifespan=perennial
			\|exposure=sun, part-sun
			\|sun_ref=Sunset National Garden Book
			\|water=moderate, dry
			\|water_ref=Sunset National Garden Book
	\|Temp Metric=°F		\|Temp Metric=°F
	\|~~jumpin~~=~~If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!~~		\|sunset_zones=vary by species
	\|image=~~Upload~~.~~png~~		\|image=Agave americana a-m.jpg
	\|image_width=240		\|image_width=240
			\|image_caption=Agave americana (Century Plant)
	}}		}}
	~~__NOTOC__{{Plantbox~~		Chiefly [[Mexico\|Mexican]], agaves occur also in the southern and western [[United States]] and in central and tropical [[South America]]. They are [[Succulent plant\|succulents]] with a large [[Rosette (botany)\|rosette]] of thick fleshy leaves, each ending generally in a sharp point and with a spiny margin; the stout stem is usually short, the leaves apparently springing from the root. Along with plants from the related genus ''[[Yucca]]'', various ''Agave'' species are popular [[ornamental plant]]s.
	\| ~~name = ''Agave''~~		[[File:COLLECTIE TROPENMUSEUM Op onderneming Bendoredjo worden bossen agave per spoor vervoert Kediri Oost-Java TMnr 10011411.jpg\|thumb\|left\|Agave harvesting in Java.]]
	\| ~~common_names = Agave~~		Each rosette is [[monocarpic]] and grows slowly to flower only once. During flowering, a tall stem or "mast" grows from the center of the leaf rosette and bears a large number of shortly tubular flowers. After development of fruit, the original plant dies, but [[Basal shoot\|sucker]]s are frequently produced from the base of the stem, which become new plants.
	~~\| growth_habit = herbaceous~~
	~~\| high = ? <!--- 1m~~ (~~3 ft~~) ~~-->~~		It is a common misconception that agaves are [[cactus\|cacti]]. They are not related to cacti, nor are they closely related to ''[[Aloe]]'' whose leaves are similar in appearance.
	\| ~~wide = <!--- 65cm (25 inches) -->~~
	~~\| origin = ? <!--- Mexico~~, ~~S America~~, ~~S Europe~~, ~~garden, etc~~ -->
	\| ~~poisonous = some have juice causing acute rash~~
	\| ~~lifespan = perennial~~
	\| ~~exposure = full sun, part-shade{{SSN}}~~
	~~\| water = usually moderate~~ to ~~little{{SSN}}~~
	~~\| features = <!---~~ flowers~~, fragrance,~~ fruit, ~~naturalizes~~, ~~invasive -->~~
	\| ~~hardiness = <!--- frost sensitive, hardy, 5°C (40°F)~~, ~~etc -->~~
	~~\| bloom = <!--- seasons~~ which ~~the plant blooms, if it is grown for its flowers -->~~
	~~\| usda_zones = ? <!--- eg~~. ~~8-11 -->~~
	~~\| sunset_zones = vary by species~~
	\| ~~color = IndianRed~~
	~~\| image = Agave americana a-m~~.~~jpg~~
	~~\| image_width = 240px <!--- leave as 240px if horizontal orientation photo~~, ~~or change~~ to ~~180px if vertical -->~~
	~~\| image_caption =~~ [[~~Agave_americana\|~~''~~Agave americana'' (Century Plant)]]~~
	~~\| regnum = Plantae~~
	~~\| divisio = Magnoliophyta~~
	~~\| classis = Liliopsida~~
	~~\| ordo = Asparagales~~
	~~\| familia = Agavaceae~~
	~~\| genus = Agave~~
	}}
	{{Inc\|		{{Inc\|
	[[Image:Agave_chiapensis_whole.jpg\|thumb\|right\|200px\|the large flower spike of ''[[Agave_chiapensis\|Agave chiapensis]]'']]		[[Image:Agave_chiapensis_whole.jpg\|thumb\|right\|200px\|the large flower spike of ''[[Agave_chiapensis\|Agave chiapensis]]'']]
Line 256:		Line 244:
	*{{wplink}}		*{{wplink}}

	~~{{stub}}~~		__NOTOC__
	~~[[Category:Categorize]]~~

	~~<!-- in order to add all the proper categories, go to http://www.plants.am/wiki/Plant_Categories and copy/paste the contents of the page here, and then follow the easy instructions! -->~~

Murali.lalitha at 14:47, 24 October 2010

2010-10-24T14:47:27Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:47, 24 October 2010
Line 1:		Line 1:
			{{SPlantbox
			\|familia=Agavaceae
			\|genus=Agave
			\|Temp Metric=°F
			\|jumpin=If this plant info box on watering; zones; height; etc. is mostly empty you can click on the edit tab and fill in the blanks!
			\|image=Upload.png
			\|image_width=240
			}}
	__NOTOC__{{Plantbox		__NOTOC__{{Plantbox
	\| name = ''Agave''		\| name = ''Agave''

WikiWorks at 12:34, 1 August 2009

2009-08-01T12:34:11Z

Show changes

BradiRoberts at 04:06, 1 August 2009

2009-08-01T04:06:56Z

Show changes

WikiWorks: /* Species */

2009-07-24T01:19:51Z

Species

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:19, 24 July 2009
Line 49:		Line 49:
	==Species==		==Species==
	There are many species of Agave, see the [[List of Agave species\|List of ''Agave'' species]].		There are many species of Agave, see the [[List of Agave species\|List of ''Agave'' species]].

			Selected species:
			*''[[Agave americana]]'' - Century plant
			*''[[Agave attenuata]]''
			*''[[Agave filifera]]''
			*''[[Agave parryi huachucensis]]''
			*''[[Agave victoriae-reginae]]''

	==Gallery==		==Gallery==

WikiWorks at 01:17, 24 July 2009

2009-07-24T01:17:33Z

Show changes

WikiWorks: /* Images of Agave species or cultivars */

2009-01-03T20:19:58Z

Images of Agave species or cultivars

WikiWorks at 14:30, 4 April 2007

2007-04-04T14:30:11Z

New page

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Agave''
| image = Agave americana a-m.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = [[Agave_americana|''Agave americana'' (Century Plant)]]
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Agavaceae]]
| genus = '''''Agave'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
| subdivision =
see text. See also [[List_of_Agave_species|full listing]].
}}

'''Agaves''' are [[succulent plant|succulent]] [[plant]]s of a large [[botanical]] [[genus]] of the same name, belonging to the family [[Agavaceae]]. Chiefly [[Mexico|Mexican]], they occur also in the southern and western [[United States]] and in central and tropical [[South America]]. The plants have a large [[Rosette (botany)|rosette]] of thick fleshy [[leaf|leaves]] generally ending in a sharp point and with a spiny margin; the stout [[Plant stem|stem]] is usually short, the leaves apparently springing from the [[root]]. Along with plants from the related genus ''[[Yucca]]'', various ''Agave'' species are popular [[ornamental plant]]s.
Each rosette is [[monocarpic]] and grows slowly to [[flower]] only once. During flowering a tall stem or "mast" grows from the center of the leaf rosette and bears a large number of shortly tubular flowers. After development of [[fruit]] the original plant [[death|dies]], but [[Basal shoot|sucker]]s are frequently produced from the base of the stem which become new plants.
It is a common misconception that '''Agaves''' are a [[cactus]]. This plant is actually related to the [[lily]] and [[amaryllis]] [[Family (biology)|families]] and as such has its own genus.

''Agave'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including ''[[Batrachedra|Batrachedra striolata]]'', which has been recorded on ''A shawii''.

==Commonly grown species==
The most commonly grown species include ''[[Agave americana]]'', ''[[Agave angustifolia]]'', ''[[Blue agave]]'' (Agave tequilana) and ''[[Agave attenuata]]''.

===''Agave americana''===
{{main|Agave americana}}

One of the most familiar species is ''[[Agave americana]]'', a native of tropical America. Common names include Century Plant, Maguey (in Mexico), or American Aloe (it is not, however, closely related to the genus ''[[Aloe]]''). The name "Century Plant" refers to the long time the plant takes to flower, although the number of years before flowering occurs depends on the vigor of the individual, the richness of the soil and the climate; during these years the plant is storing in its fleshy leaves the nourishment required for the effort of flowering.

''Agave americana'', century plant, was introduced into Europe about the middle of the 16th century and is now widely cultivated for its handsome appearance; in the variegated forms the leaf has a white or yellow marginal or central stripe from base to apex. As the leaves unfold from the center of the rosette the impression of the marginal spines is very conspicuous on the still erect younger leaves. The tequ plants are usually grown in tubs and put out in the summer months, but in the winter require protection from frost. They mature very slowly and die after flowering, but are easily propagated by the offsets from the base of the stem.

===''Agave attenuata''===
{{main|Agave attenuata}}

''A. attenuata'' is a native of central Mexico and is uncommon in its natural habitat. Unlike most species of ''Agave'', ''A. attenuata'' has a curved flower spike from which it derives one of its numerous common names - the foxtail agave.

''A. attenuata'' is also commonly grown as a garden plant. Unlike many agaves, ''A. attenuata'' has no teeth or terminal spines making it an ideal plant for areas adjacent to footpaths. Like all agaves, ''A. attenuata'' is a succulent and requires little water or maintenance once established .

==Uses==
[[Image:Agave_chiapensis_whole.jpg|thumb|right|200px|the large flower sp
ike of ''[[Agave_chiapensis|Agave chiapensis]]'']]
Four major parts of the agave are edible: the flowers, the leaves, the stalks or basal rosettes, and the sap.(Davidson 1999)
*Each agave plant will produce several pounds of [[edible flowers]] during the summer.
*The leaves may be collected in winter and spring, when the plants are rich in sap, for eating.
*The stalks, which are ready during the summer, before the blossom, weigh several pounds each. Roasted, they are sweet, like molasses.
*During the development of the inflorescence there is a rush of sap to the base of the young flower stalk. In the case of ''A. americana'' and other species, this is used by the Mexicans to make their national beverage, [[pulque]].
*The flower shoot is cut out and the sap collected and subsequently fermented. By distillation, a spirit called [[mezcal]] is prepared; one of the most well-known forms of mezcal is [[tequila]]. In [[2001]] the Mexican Government and [[European Union]] agreed the classification of tequila and its categories. 100% Blue Agave Tequila must be made from the Weber Blue Agave plant, to rigorous specifications and only in certain Mexican states.

*The leaves of several species yield fiber: for instance, ''Agave rigida var. sisalana'', [[Sisal]] hemp, ''Agave decipiens'', False Sisal Hemp. ''Agave americana'' is the source of pita fiber and is used as a fiber plant in Mexico, the [[West Indies]] and southern [[Europe]].

*When dried and cut in slices, the flowering stem forms natural [[razor strop]]s, and the expressed juice of the leaves will lather in water like soap.

*The Natives of Mexico used the agave to make pens, nails and needles, as well as string to sew and make weavings. In [[India]] the plant is extensively used for hedges along railroads.

*[[Agave syrup]] (also called agave nectar) is used as an alternative to [[sugar]] in cooking.

==Ethnomedical Uses==
*Leaf [[tea]] or [[tincture]] taken orally is used to treat [[constipation]] and excess gas. It is also used as a [[diuretic]].

*Root tea or [[tincture]] is taken orally to treat [[arthritic]] joints.

==Warnings==
*The juice from many species of agave can cause acute contact [[dermatitis]]. It will produce reddening and blistering lasting one to two weeks. Episodes of itching may recur up to a year thereafter, even though there is no longer a visible rash. Irritation is, in part, caused by [[calcium oxalate]] [[raphides]]. Dried parts of the plants can be handled with bare hands with little or no effect.

==Taxonomy==
Agaves were once classified in [[Liliaceae]], but most references now include them in their own family, [[Agavaceae]].

Agaves have long presented special difficulties for [[alpha taxonomy|taxonomy]]; variations within a species may be considerable, and a number of named species are of unknown origin and may just be variants of original wild species.

Spanish and Portuguese explorers probably brought agave plants back to Europe with them, but the plants became popular in Europe during the 19th century when many types were imported by collectors. Some have been continuously propagated by offset since then, and do not consistently resemble any species known in the wild, although this may simply be due to the differences in growing conditions in Europe.

==Images of ''Agave'' species or cultivars==
<gallery>
Image:Agave_americana4.jpg|''[[Agave americana]]'' var. 'americana'
Image:Agave1web.jpg|''[[Agave americana]]'' var. 'marginata'
Image:Agave americana 'Medio-Picta' Plant 3264px.jpg|''[[Agave americana]]'' cv. 'Medio-Picta'
Image:Agaveespinho2.jpg|''[[Agave angustifolia]]'' 'Marginata'
Image:Agave attenuata Pot 2250px.jpg|''[[Agave attenuata]]''
Image:Agave bracteosa.jpg|''[[Agave bracteosa]]'' (Spider agave)
Image:Agave_deserti_form.jpg|''[[Agave deserti]]''
Image:Agave_ferox_3.jpg|''[[Agave ferox]]''
Image:Agave_filifera01.jpg|''[[Agave filifera]]''
Image:Agaveespinho1.jpg|''[[Agave horrida]]''
Image:Agave inaequidens ssp barrancensis.jpg|''[[Agave inaequidens]]'' ssp. ''barrancensis''
Image:Agave lechuguilla0.jpg|''[[Agave l
echeguilla]]''
Image:Agave palmeri.jpg|''[[Agave palmeri]]''
Image:California Cabbage Cactus.jpg|''[[Agave parryi]]''
Image:agave.potatorum.kewgardens.london.arp.jpg|''[[Agave potatorum]]''
Image:Agave_potatorum_Kichiokan.jpg|''[[Agave potatorum]]'' cv. 'Kichiokan'
Image:Agave schidigera Durango Delight.jpg|''[[Agave schidigera]]'' cv. 'Durango Delight'
Image:Agave shawii 1.jpg|''[[Agave shawii]]''
Image:Plantsisal.jpg|''[[Agave sisalana]]'' (Sisal)
Image:Agave stricta.jpg|''[[Agave stricta]]''
Image:Agave tequilana0.jpg|''[[Agave tequilana]]'' (Tequila agave)
Image:Agave utahensis leaves.jpg|''[[Agave utahensis]]''
Image:Agave victoriae-reginae lv 2.jpg|''[[Agave victoriae-reginae]]''
Image:Agave vilmoriniana 2.jpg|''[[Agave vilmoriniana]]''
Image:Agave parrasana.jpg|''[[Agave wislizeni]]'' (syn. ''[[Agave parrasana]]'')
</gallery>

==Species==
There are many species of Agave, see the [[List_of_Agave_species|List of ''Agave'' species]].

==References==
* [[Howard Scott Gentry]], ''Agaves of Continental North America'' (University of Arizona Press, 1982), the standard work, with accounts of 136 species
* [http://www.ipni.org/index.html IPNI : The International Plant Name Index]
* [http://wildflower.utexas.edu/plants/search.php?search_field=agave&newsearch=true&family= Native Plant Information Network] More information on species in the ''Agave'' genus
*{{cite book
| last = Davidson
| first = Alan
| authorlink = Alan Davidson (food writer)
| coauthors =
| title = The Oxford Companion to Food
| publisher = Oxford University press
| date = 1999
| location = Oxford
| pages = xx + 892
| url =
| doi =
| id = ISBN 0-19-211579-0}}

[[Category:Agavaceae]]
[[Category:Crops originating from the Americas]]
[[Category:Dermatology]]
[[Category:Poisonous_plants]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 20:19, 3 January 2009
Line 79:		Line 79:
	Image:Agave americana 'Medio-Picta' Plant 3264px.jpg\|''[[Agave americana]]'' cv. 'Medio-Picta'		Image:Agave americana 'Medio-Picta' Plant 3264px.jpg\|''[[Agave americana]]'' cv. 'Medio-Picta'
	Image:Agaveespinho2.jpg\|''[[Agave angustifolia]]'' 'Marginata'		Image:Agaveespinho2.jpg\|''[[Agave angustifolia]]'' 'Marginata'
			Image:Agave_attenuata-boutin_blue-IMG_0259_hunt07.jpg\|''[[Agave attenuata]]''
			Image:Agave_attenuata-IMG_0269_hunt07.jpg\|''[[Agave attenuata]]''
	Image:Agave attenuata Pot 2250px.jpg\|''[[Agave attenuata]]''		Image:Agave attenuata Pot 2250px.jpg\|''[[Agave attenuata]]''
	Image:Agave bracteosa.jpg\|''[[Agave bracteosa]]'' (Spider agave)		Image:Agave bracteosa.jpg\|''[[Agave bracteosa]]'' (Spider agave)
			Image:Agave_cerulata-ssp._subcerulata-IMG_0457_hunt07.jpg\|''[[Agave cerulata]]'' ssp. subcerulata
	Image:Agave_deserti_form.jpg\|''[[Agave deserti]]''		Image:Agave_deserti_form.jpg\|''[[Agave deserti]]''
	Image:Agave_ferox_3.jpg\|''[[Agave ferox]]''		Image:Agave_ferox_3.jpg\|''[[Agave ferox]]''
	Image:Agave_filifera01.jpg\|''[[Agave filifera]]''		Image:Agave_filifera01.jpg\|''[[Agave filifera]]''
			Image:Agave_hookeri-IMG_2950_lokrun.jpg\|''[[Agave hookeri]]''
	Image:Agaveespinho1.jpg\|''[[Agave horrida]]''		Image:Agaveespinho1.jpg\|''[[Agave horrida]]''
	Image:Agave inaequidens ssp barrancensis.jpg\|''[[Agave inaequidens]]'' ssp. ''barrancensis''		Image:Agave inaequidens ssp barrancensis.jpg\|''[[Agave inaequidens]]'' ssp. ''barrancensis''
	Image:Agave lechuguilla0.jpg\|''[[Agave l		Image:Agave lechuguilla0.jpg\|''[[Agave lecheguilla]]''
	~~echeguilla~~]]''
	Image:Agave palmeri.jpg\|''[[Agave palmeri]]''		Image:Agave palmeri.jpg\|''[[Agave palmeri]]''
	Image:California Cabbage Cactus.jpg\|''[[Agave parryi]]''		Image:California Cabbage Cactus.jpg\|''[[Agave parryi]]''
			Image:Agave_potatorum-IMG_7502_sfbg0308.jpg\|''[[Agave potatorum]]''
	Image:agave.potatorum.kewgardens.london.arp.jpg\|''[[Agave potatorum]]''		Image:agave.potatorum.kewgardens.london.arp.jpg\|''[[Agave potatorum]]''
	Image:Agave_potatorum_Kichiokan.jpg\|''[[Agave potatorum]]'' cv. 'Kichiokan'		Image:Agave_potatorum_Kichiokan.jpg\|''[[Agave potatorum]]'' cv. 'Kichiokan'
Line 98:		Line 102:
	Image:Agave tequilana0.jpg\|''[[Agave tequilana]]'' (Tequila agave)		Image:Agave tequilana0.jpg\|''[[Agave tequilana]]'' (Tequila agave)
	Image:Agave utahensis leaves.jpg\|''[[Agave utahensis]]''		Image:Agave utahensis leaves.jpg\|''[[Agave utahensis]]''
			Image:Agave_victoriae-reginae-queen_victoria_agave-IMG_0435_hunt07.jpg\|''[[Agave victoriae-reginae]]''
	Image:Agave victoriae-reginae lv 2.jpg\|''[[Agave victoriae-reginae]]''		Image:Agave victoriae-reginae lv 2.jpg\|''[[Agave victoriae-reginae]]''
	Image:Agave vilmoriniana 2.jpg\|''[[Agave vilmoriniana]]''		Image:Agave vilmoriniana 2.jpg\|''[[Agave vilmoriniana]]''