Asparagaceae FAMILY

Agave hauniensis

Edibility

0/5

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 hauniensis is a stemless, herbaceous perennial plant, with leaves that are probably evergreen. Growing from a branched, rhizomatous rootstock, it produces a cluster of leaves 45 - 95cm long and 4 - 12cm wide, with flowering stems that can be 2 - 3.5 metres tall[ 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 ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintropical

Native RangeSouthern N. America - central and southern Mexico (Michoacán, México, Morelos, Guerrero, Oaxaca)

HabitatLava fields, rocky slopes in juniper, oak and pine-oak and tropical deciduous forests or in full sun in glades; at elevations from 700 - 2,150 metres[ 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 ].