Agave chiapensis

Description

Agave chiapensis is a species of Agave native to the Mexican states of Chiapas and Oaxaca. It has also been reported from Costa Rica and Guatemala. Populations of this species are relatively small and isolated, and are threatened by urban and agricultural expansion, particularly in Chiapas. It is a medium-sized agave, with spreading rosettes of light green leaves that are variable, but tend toward the ovate. The teeth of the leaf margins are deltoid and may be found either small (3–4 mm) and closely spaced, or larger (5–10 mm) and further apart. The strong terminal spine of the leaf is 2–3.5 cm in length. The flower spike typically reaches 2 m in height, with the flowers spread along the upper third to quarter of its length. The flowers are 60–70 mm long, and yellow or green in color, but flushed with red or purple shading, as well as the bractlets, giving an overall darker appearance. The filaments are also dark and at 70–80 mm extend far out of the flower, with 30-mm anthers on the ends. Agave is a genus of monocots native to the hot and arid regions of the Americas, although some Agave species are also native to tropical areas of South America. The genus Agave (from the Ancient Greek αγαυή, agauê) is primarily known for its succulent and xerophytic species that typically form large rosettes of strong, fleshy leaves. Agave now includes species formerly placed in a number of other genera, such as Manfreda, ×Mangave, Polianthes and Prochnyanthes. Many plants in this genus may be considered perennial, because they require several to many years to mature and flower. However, most Agave species are more accurately described as monocarpic rosettes or multiannuals, since each individual rosette flowers only once and then dies; a small number of Agave species are polycarpic. Maguey flowers are considered edible in many indigenous culinary traditions of Mesoamerica. Along with plants from the closely related genera Yucca, Hesperoyucca, and Hesperaloe, various Agave species are popular ornamental plants in hot, dry climates, as they require very little supplemental water to survive. Most Agave species grow very slowly. Some Agave species are known by the common name "century plant". The succulent leaves of most Agave species have sharp marginal teeth, an extremely sharp terminal spine, and are very fibrous inside. The stout stem is usually extremely short, which may make the plant appear as though it is stemless.