Agave xylonacantha

Agave xylonacantha

Secure  (NatureServe)[2]
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Genus: Agave
Species:
A. xylonacantha
Binomial name
Agave xylonacantha
Synonyms[3]
  • Agave amurensis Jacobi
  • Agave carchariodonta Pamp.
  • Agave heteracantha var. splendens (Jacobi) A.Terracc.
  • Agave hybrida Verschaff.
  • Agave kochii Jacobi
  • Agave perbella Baker
  • Agave splendens Jacobi
  • Agave univittata var. carchariodonta (Pamp.) Breitung
  • Agave vanderdonckii Baker

Agave xylonacantha is a plant species native to Hidalgo, Tamaulipas, Guanajuato and Queretaro in Mexico, but commonly cultivated as an ornamental on other regions. A. xylonacantha is an easy-to-grow member of the genus Agave.[4] The specific epithet 'xylonacantha' means "wood spines".[5]

Description

Agave xylonacantha produces a basal rosette of up to 180 cm (6 feet) in diameter. Leaves are sword-shaped, up to 90 cm (3 feet) long and 7.5 cm (3 inches) across, each ending in a spine about 4– 5 cm (1.6-2 inches) long. Margins of the leaves have spines up to 3 cm (1.2 inches) across. This gives the margins an undulating appearance. Flowering stalks can reach a height of 3.3 m (11 feet). Flowers are up to 3.5 cm (1.5 inches) in diameter with greenish tepals.[6][7][8]

Cultivars include:

  • 'Frostbite': the leaf's edges are a creamy yellow[9]
  • 'Blue': the leaves are blue-green[10]

References

  1. ^ Hernández Sandoval, L.; González-Elizondo, M.; Zamudio, S.; Hernández-Martínez, M.; Matías-Palafox, M.; Sánchez, E. (2019). "Agave xylonacantha". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2019: e.T115699290A116354698. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2019-3.RLTS.T115699290A116354698.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ "NatureServe Explorer". Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  3. ^ "The Plant List:A Working List of All Plant Species".
  4. ^ Complete Encyclopedia of Succulents by Zdenek Jezek and Libor Kunte
  5. ^ "Agave xylonacantha, Saw Leaf Agave, Succulent, [Agave carchariodonta]". www.smgrowers.com. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  6. ^ Bailey, L.H. & E.Z. Bailey. 1976. Hortus Third i–xiv, 1–1290. MacMillan, New York.
  7. ^ CONABIO. 2009. Catálogo taxonómico de especies de México. 1. In Capital Nat. México. CONABIO, Mexico City.
  8. ^ Gentry, H. S. 1982. Agaves of Continental North America i–xiv, 1–670. The University of Arizona Press, Tucson.
  9. ^ "Agave xylonacantha 'Frostbite' | Walters Gardens, Inc". www.waltersgardens.com. Retrieved 2021-05-05.
  10. ^ "Agave Xylonacantha 'Blue'". www.succseed.com. Retrieved 2021-05-05.