Asparagaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Agave victoriae-reginae

Edibility

2/5

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 victoriae-reginae is an evergreen, stemless, succulent plant forming a rosette of leaves that can be 20 - 65cm tall and 60cm in diameter. Up to 500 leaves are produced on mature plants, each of which can be 10 - 22cm long and 36 - 48mm wide near the base. After several years of growth, a flowering stem that can be around 16 - 4.3 metres tall is produced, after which the rosette will die. The plant sometimes produces a number of young plants around its base that will continue to grow after the death of the parent plant[ 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 sometimes used for making the distilled liquor 'mezcal'[ 1845 Title Population Dynamics and Sustainable Management of Mescal Agaves in Central Mexico: Agave potatorum in the Tehuacán-C Publication Econ. Bot. 69(1): 26-41, 2015 Author Toees I. et al Website https://doi.org/10.1007/s12231-014-9295-2. Publisher Year 2015 ISBN Description ]. It is widely grown as an ornamental. Worldwide known for its ornamental use, Agave victoriae-reginae is an abundant species, with a relatively wide distribution, which despite facing some threats locally (urban pressure and collection) does not experience a significant decrease in its population. In addition, it is present in protected areasThe plant 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

Origintropical

Native RangeSouthern N. America - northeast Mexico (eastern Durango, southern Coahuila and western Nuevo León)

HabitatFound on steep calcareous slopes, in xerophilous scrub and submontane scrub; at elevations from 565 - 1,685 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 ].