Agave scabra
Agave scabra
Safety & Hazards
The roots contain saponins and are used as a barbasco, or fish poison[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ]. 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 scabra is a herbaceous perennial plant forming a rosette of leaves from a thick, fleshy rootstock. Around 12 - 15, soft, thin leaves are produced that can each be 25 - 35cm long and 2 - 4cm wide near the base, and often lie flat on the ground. The slender flowering stem can be 100 - 200cm tall. The plant loses its leaves and becomes dormant in dry seasons[ 331 Title Flora of Guatemala Publication Author Standley P.C. & J. A. Steyermark Website http://www.archive.org/ Publisher Year 1946 - 1976 ISBN Description A superb reference, though somewhat dated. Gives lots of plant uses as well as information on plant habit and habitat. The entire flora (13 volumes) can now be downloaded from http://www.archive.org/ ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of soap. The rhizomes of this and several other closely related species used to be highly valued for their use as a soap. They were sold in large quantities in local markets all round the country[ 1852 Title Huaco and Amole: A Survey of the Uses of Manfreda and Prochnyanthes Publication Economic Botany, Vol. 32, No. 2 (Apr. - Jun., 1978), pp. 124-130 Author Verhoek S. Website http://www.jstor.org/stable/4253919 Publisher Year 1978 ISBN Description ].