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Agave americana
  • Agave

a perennial evergreen member of the Agave genus in the family Agavaceae.

248px
Niche
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    The ecosystem niches for this plant are unknown. Do you know them? Click the edit button to add them!
Functions
  • Soil builder
    Soil builder
    There are no details available for this function.
Light
  • Full sun
    Full sun
    The amount of sun exposure that a plant prefers in ideal conditions.
    Key
  • no shade
    No shade
    The amount of shade a plant will tolerate without adverse health affects.
    Key
Water
  • Water Requirementsmoderate
    Moderate
    The amount of water a plant needs for healthy growth, relative to other plants.
    Key
Soil
  • acid,neutral,alkaline
    Acid to Alkaline
    The PH range (acidity or alkilinity) of the growth medium ideal for healthy nutrient absorbtion.
    Key
  • Sandy to Loamy
    The soil texture this plant prefers for optimal growth.
    Key
Cold & Heat
  • 9
    Zone 9
    The USDA Hardiness scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the minimum temperature a plant can survive.
    Key
    0< -53.9ºC< -65ºF
    1-51.1ºC-60ºF
    2-45.6ºC-50F
    3-40ºC-40ºF
    4-34.4ºC-30ºF
    5-28.9ºC-20ºF
    6-23.3ºC-10ºF
    7-17.8ºC0ºF
    8-12.2C10ºF
    9-6.7ºC20ºF
    10-1.1ºC30ºF
    114.4ºC40ºF
    12> 10ºC> 5ºF
  • ?
    Unknown
    The AHS Heat scale assigns plants a number from 1 to 12 representing the number of days per year a plant requires a temperature exceeding 30ºC (86ºF).
    Key
    11
    21 - 7
    38 - 14
    415 - 30
    531 - 45
    646 - 60
    761 - 90
    891 - 120
    9121 - 150
    10151 - 180
    11181 - 210
    12181 - 210
Agave americana has 0 edible uses listed
Agave americana has 0 material uses listed
Agave americana has 0 medicinal uses listed

Uses

Toxic parts

Contact with the fresh sap can cause dermatitis in sensitive people[1][2]. The plants have a very sharp and tough spine at the tip of each leaf. They need to be carefully sited in the garden.

Edible uses

Notes

The heart of the plant is very rich in saccharine matter and can be eaten when baked[3][4][5]. Sweet and nutritious, but rather fibrous[6]. It is partly below ground[7].

Seed - ground into a flour and used as a thickener in soups or used with cereal flours when making bread[4]. Flower stalk - roasted[4][8]. Used like asparagus[5].

Sap from the cut flowering stems is used as a syrup[9] or fermented into pulque or mescal[5]. The sap can also be tapped by boring a hole into the middle of the plant at the base of the flowering stem[6].

Leaves

Unknown use

Sap

Unknown use

Seed

Unknown use

Stem

Unknown use

Material uses

The plant contains saponins. An extract of the leaves is used as a soap[3]. The roots are used according to another report[2]. It is likely that the root is the best source of the saponins that are used to make a soap[K]. Chop up the leaves or the roots into small pieces and then simmer them in water to extract the saponins. Do not over boil or you will start to break down the saponins[K].

There is a report that the plant has insecticidal properties, but further details are not given[1][2]. A very strong fibre obtained from the leaves is used for making rope, coarse fabrics etc[3][10][4][2]. A paper can also be made from the leaves[3]. The thorns on the leaves are used as pins and needles[3]. The dried flowering stems are used as a waterproof thatch[3] and as a razor strop[11].

The plants are used in land-reclamation schemes in arid areas of the world[2].

Unknown part

Fibre
Insecticide
Needles
Paper
Pins
Soap
Thatching

Medicinal uses(Warning!)

The sap of agaves has long been used in Central America as a binding agent for various powders used as poultices on wounds[12]. The sap can also be taken internally in the treatment of diarrhoea, dysentery etc[12].

The sap is antiseptic, diaphoretic, diuretic and laxative[13][1][14]. An infusion of the chopped leaf is purgative and the juice of the leaves is applied to bruises[1]. The plant is used internally in the treatment of indigestion, flatulence, constipation, jaundice and dysentery[2]. The sap has disinfectant properties and can be taken internally to check the growth of putrefactive bacteria in the stomach and intestines[13]. Water in which agave fibre has been soaked for a day can be used as a scalp disinfectant and tonic in cases of falling hair[13]. Steroid drug precursors are obtained from the leaves[2]. A gum from the root and leaf is used in the treatment of toothache[1]. The root is diaphoretic and diuretic[14]. It is used in the treatment of syphilis[1][14].

All parts of the plant can be harvested for use as required, they can also be dried for later use. The dried leaves and roots store well[2].

Unknown part

Antiseptic
Diaphoretic
Diuretic
Laxative
Miscellany
Odontalgic
VD

Ecology

Ecosystem niche/layer

Ecological Functions

Soil builder

Forage

Nothing listed.

Shelter

Nothing listed.

Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a light position, April in a warm greenhouse. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 20°c[15]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of well-drained soil when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position in the greenhouse until they are at least 20cm tall. Plant out in late spring or early summer, after the last expected frosts, and give some protection from the cold for at least their first few winters[K]. Offsets can be potted up at any time they are available. Keep in a warm greenhouse until they are well established[16].

Practical Plants is currently lacking information on propagation instructions of Agave americana. Help us fill in the blanks! Edit this page to add your knowledge.



Cultivation

Requires a very well-drained soil and a sunny position[17][16].

The agave is not very hardy in Britain tolerating temperatures down to about -3°c if conditions are not wet[18]. It succeeds outdoors on the south coast of England from Torbay westwards[19]. Plants survived lower temperatures during the very cold winters from 1985/1987 and were unharmed at Glendurgan gardens in West Cornwall[K]. A monocarpic species, the plant lives for a number of years without flowering but dies once it does flower. However, it normally produces plenty of suckers during its life and these continue growing, taking about 10 - 15 years in a warm climate, considerably longer in colder ones, before flowering[19]. This plant is widely used by the native people in its wild habitat, it has a wide range of uses. In a warm climate suckers take 10 - 15 years to come into flower.

Members of this genus are rarely if ever troubled by browsing deer[20].

Crops

Problems, pests & diseases

Associations & Interactions

There are no interactions listed for Agave americana. Do you know of an interaction that should be listed here? edit this page to add it.

Polycultures & Guilds

There are no polycultures listed which include Agave americana.

Descendants

Cultivars

Varieties

None listed.

Subspecies

None listed.

Full Data

This table shows all the data stored for this plant.

Taxonomy
Binomial name
Agave americana
Genus
Agave
Family
Agavaceae
Imported References
Edible uses
[3][4][5][6][7][8][9]
Medicinal uses
[12][13][1][14][2]
Material uses & Functions
[3][2][1][10][4][11]
Botanic
[19][21][16]
Propagation
Cultivation
Environment
Cultivation
Uses
Edible uses
None listed.
Material uses
None listed.
Medicinal uses
None listed.
Functions & Nature
Functions
Soil builder
Provides forage for
Provides shelter for
Environment
Hardiness Zone
9
Heat Zone
?
Water
moderate
Sun
full sun
Shade
no shade
Soil PH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Soil Texture
sandy, loamy
Soil Water Retention
well drained
Environmental Tolerances
  • Drought
Ecosystems
Native Climate Zones
None listed.
Adapted Climate Zones
None listed.
Native Geographical Range
None listed.
Native Environment
None listed.
Ecosystem Niche
None listed.
Root Zone Tendancy
None listed.
Life
Deciduous or Evergreen
evergreen
Herbaceous or Woody
?
Life Cycle
perennial
Growth Rate
slow
Mature Size
7.5 x 2.5 meters
Fertility
?
Pollinators
Lepidoptera, Bats
Flower Colour
?
Flower Type
hermaphrodite

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"image:Agave americana.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Agave americana.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.


"image:Agave americana.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Agave americana.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.

"image:Agave americana.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Agave americana.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Agave americana.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Agave americana.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki., "image:Agave americana.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Agave americana.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki. "image:Agave americana.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki."image:Agave americana.jpg|248px" cannot be used as a page name in this wiki.






References

  1. ? 1.01.11.21.31.41.51.61.7 Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. ISBN 0-917256-20-4 (1985-00-00)
  2. ? 2.02.12.22.32.42.52.62.72.82.9 Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. ISBN 0-7513-020-31 (1995-00-00)
  3. ? 3.03.13.23.33.43.53.63.7 Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-20459-6 (1972-00-00)
  4. ? 4.04.14.24.34.44.5 Balls. E. K. Early Uses of Californian Plants. University of California Press ISBN 0-520-00072-2 (1975-00-00)
  5. ? 5.05.15.25.3 Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications ISBN 0-9628087-0-9 (1990-00-00)
  6. ? 6.06.16.2 Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books ISBN 0-449-90589-6 (1980-00-00)
  7. ? 7.07.1 Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press ISBN 0-8623-0343-9 (1967-00-00)
  8. ? 8.08.1 Saunders. C. F. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the United States and Canada. Dover Publications ISBN 0-486-23310-3 (1976-00-00)
  9. ? 9.09.1 Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books ISBN 3874292169 (1984-00-00)
  10. ? 10.010.1 Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable ISBN 0094579202 (1974-00-00)
  11. ? 11.011.1 Polunin. O. and Huxley. A. Flowers of the Mediterranean. Hogarth Press ISBN 0-7012-0784-1 (1987-00-00)
  12. ? 12.012.112.2 Chevallier. A. The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants Dorling Kindersley. London ISBN 9-780751-303148 (1996-00-00)
  13. ? 13.013.113.213.3 Lust. J. The Herb Book. Bantam books ISBN 0-553-23827-2 (1983-00-00)
  14. ? 14.014.114.214.3 Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. (1986-00-00)
  15. ? Rice. G. (Editor) Growing from Seed. Volume 1. Thompson and Morgan. (1987-00-00)
  16. ? 16.016.116.2 Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press ISBN 0-333-47494-5 (1992-00-00)
  17. ? F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press (1951-00-00)
  18. ? Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Pan Books, London. ISBN 0-330-37376-5 (1998-00-00)
  19. ? 19.019.119.2 Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray (1981-00-00)
  20. ? Thomas. G. S. Perennial Garden Plants J. M. Dent & Sons, London. ISBN 0 460 86048 8 (1990-00-00)
  21. ? Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named PFAFimport-72

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Facts about "Agave americana"RDF feed
Article is incompleteYes +
Article requires citationsNo +
Article requires cleanupYes +
Belongs to familyAgavaceae +
Belongs to genusAgave +
Functions asSoil builder +
Has common nameAgave +
Has drought toleranceTolerant +
Has edible partLeaves +, Sap +, Seeds + and Stem +
Has edible useUnknown use +
Has environmental toleranceDrought +
Has fertility typeLepidoptera + and Bats +
Has flowers of typeHermaphrodite +
Has growth rateSlow +
Has hardiness zone9 +
Has imageAgave americana.jpg +
Has lifecycle typePerennial +
Has material partUnknown part +
Has material useFibre +, Insecticide +, Needles +, Paper +, Pins +, Soap + and Thatching +
Has mature height7.5 +
Has mature width2.5 +
Has medicinal partUnknown part +
Has medicinal useAntiseptic +, Diaphoretic +, Diuretic +, Laxative +, Miscellany +, Odontalgic + and VD +
Has primary imageAgave americana.jpg +
Has search nameagave americana + and x +
Has shade toleranceNo shade +
Has soil ph preferenceAcid +, Neutral + and Alkaline +
Has soil teloamyture preferenceLoamy +
Has soil tesandyture preferenceSandy +
Has soil water retention preferenceWell drained +
Has sun preferenceFull sun +
Has taxonomy nameAgave americana +
Has water requirementsmoderate +
Is deciduous or evergreenEvergreen +
Is taxonomy typeSpecies +
Tolerates nutritionally poor soilNo +
Uses mature size measurement unitMeters +