Agave lechuguilla
Agave decipiens
lecheguilla, lechuguilla
false sisal, Florida agave
mostly ascending to erect, (25–)30–50 × 2–4(–5.2) cm;
blade light green to yellowish green, sometimes checkmarked but without bud-prints, linear-lanceolate, stiff, adaxially concave toward apex, abaxially convex toward base;
margins straight, easily detached, nonfiliferous, conspicuously armed, teeth single 2–6 mm, mostly (1–)2–4 cm apart, rarely absent;
apical spine grayish, conical to subulate, 1.5–4.5 cm.
spreading to recurved, 70–100(–200) × 7–10 cm;
blade green, without bud-prints, linear-lanceolate, rigid, adaxially concave toward apex, abaxially convex toward base;
margins slightly wavy, armed, teeth single, 2–3 mm, 1–2 cm apart, often with some interstitial smaller teeth;
apical spine dark brown, conical, 1–2 cm.
(2–)2.5–3.5 m. Inflorescences spicate, densely flowered on distal 1/2;
bracts caducous, linear, 1–3 cm;
peduncle 2–5 mm, rarely 20–150 mm.
3–5 m. Inflorescences paniculate, often bulbiferous;
bracts caducous;
lateral branches 10–18, ascending, comprising distal 1/2 of inflorescence, longer than 4 cm.
2–3 per cluster, erect to slightly recurved, (2.4–)3–4.5 cm;
perianth yellow, frequently tinged with red or purple, tube campanulate, 1.5–4 × 6–12 mm, limb lobes ascending, subequal, 11–20 mm;
stamens long-exserted;
filaments inserted on rim of perianth tube, spreading, yellow to reddish, 2.5–4.2 cm;
anthers pale yellow, (11–)15–20 mm;
ovary (0.8–)1.5–2.2 cm, neck constricted (2–)4–8.5 mm.
15 or more per cluster, erect, 6–8 cm;
perianth greenish yellow, tube funnelform, 11–13 × 4–6 mm, limb lobes incurved, drying reflexed on tube, subequal, 18–22 mm;
stamens long-exserted;
filaments inserted on 2 levels at or slightly above mid perianth tube, erect, yellow, 4–5 cm;
anthers yellow, 22–25 mm;
ovary 4–5 cm, neck absent.
sessile or short-pedicellate, oblong, 1.8–2.5(–3) cm, apex beaked.
short-pedicellate, ellipsoid to oblong, 3.5–5 cm, apex beaked.
4.5–6 mm.
not seen.
= 110–120.
= 120, 150, 160, 180, 190.
Agave lechuguilla
Agave decipiens
Agave lechuguilla is the principal source of “istle” or “ixtle,” a hard fiber used for rope and known by the trade name “Tampico fibre.” The plant is poisonous to cattle, goats, and sheep. This species is the dominant agave on the Chihuahuan Desert. It hybridizes with A. havardiana, A. neomexicana, A. gracilipes, and A. ×glomeruliflora.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Agave decipiens might have been introduced from Latin America by Native Americans; it is not otherwise known from the wild. The proliferation of chromosome numbers suggests prolonged human propagation and a probable hybrid origin. Until demonstrated otherwise, the species is considered a rare and localized native species known only from a few sites in southern Florida. H. S. Gentry (1982) discounted the suggestion that A. decipiens was found on the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico. He considered such plants to be A. angustifolia.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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