Agave deserti Engelmann

Desert Agave
Agavaceae [Asparagaceae] - Asparagales

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Protologue: Trans. Acad. Sci. St. Louis 3: 310 (1875)
Pronunciation: A-gá-ve dé-ser-ti
Etymology: from Gr. agauos, admirable, noble + of or from the desert

Jepson eFlora Treatment

Jepson eFlora Key to Agave taxa

SD County Synoptic Voucher

Note: Two varieties in California, only Agave deserti var. deserti occurring in San Diego County.

Key to varieties of Agave deserti: (from the Jepson eFlora)
Perianth tube 3–5 mm, bell-shaped; filaments ± from top of perianth tube; rosettes many; DSon ..... var. deserti
Perianth tube (3)5–10 mm, funnel-shaped ; filaments from above middle of perianth tube; rosette 1; DMtns (San Bernardino Co.) ..... var. simplex


Distribution:
   
Left: S.D. County Plant Atlas (http://sdplantatlas.org). Middle: SEINet (http://swbiodiversity.org).
Right: CCH2. Click to see current herbarium records.  


Images:

Agave deserti var. deserti
Whole plant, in flower, acaulescent, with basal leaves, a tall, paniculate inflorescence.


Agave deserti var. deserti
Close-up of basal rosette of spine-tipped leaves. Note impression scar of adjacent leaves.


Agave deserti var. deserti
Inflorescence, paniculate.


Agave deserti var. deserti
Flowers. Note long stamens and style, inferior ovary.


Agave deserti var. deserti
Dead plants with persistent infructescence; fruits are loculidical capsules.