Agave americana
(century plant)

 Agavaceae

 

Description:
Plants 4-10 m tall in flower. Basal leaf rosettes often produced vegetatively at stem base or from underground stems; leaves lanceolate, 1-2 m long, pale green to glaucous, marginal teeth 4-8 mm long. Panicle narrowly ovoid. Perianth funnelform, 5-8 cm long, yellow; stamens adnate to perianth tube; ovary 2.5-4.5 cm long. Fruit oblong, 4-6 cm long.  Flowers Aug-Sep.

Distribution:
Santa Cruz, San Nicolas and San Clemente islands; Todos Santos Island; widely cultivated and locally naturalized in southwest U.S., often persisting after cultivation; native of eastern AZ, TX, and eastern Mexico.

 

Santa Cruz Island

Scarce; disturbed sites; coastal scrub; 10-750 ft (3-230 m).

1995(1)
Planted on north side at Pelican Bay (where naturalized), Prisoners’ Harbor, Campo del Norte, and Scorpion Ranch; Central Valley at Stanton Ranch.


(1) Provided by "A Flora of Santa Cruz Island" Steve Junak et al. Copyright Santa Barbara Botanic Garden & California Native Plant Society 1995.

Plant descriptions from "A Flora of Santa Cruz Island" Steve Junak et al. Copyright Santa Barbara Botanic Garden & California Native Plant Society 1995.  Used with permission.  Do not use or reproduce without permission.

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Last modified: 12/20/2007