Contains 1 accepted taxa overall.
Characteristics
Recent work is suggestive of expanding the concept of Agave to include Manfreda, Polianthes, and Prochnyanthes (Archibald et al. 2015). Exposure to agave tissues can cause irritation due to calcium oxalate crystals (Ricks et al. 1999; Salinas et al. 2001; Franck 2012; Tello et al. 2017).
Classification
Citation
AGAVE Linnaeus, Sp. Pl. 323. 1753.
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TYPE: Agave americana Linnaeus 1753. Typified by Britton & P. Wilson, Bot. Porto Rico 5: 156. 1923.
Species
| Scientific Name | Common Name | Herbarium Specimens | Status | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Agave virginica | Rattlesnake-master, Eastern False-aloe |
Identification Key
1. Leaf apex flexible, membranaceous
1. Leaf apex with a hardened, rigid terminal spine
2
2. Terminal spine decurrent (sclerified spine tissue extending down margins of leaf)
3
2. Terminal spine abrupt, truncate at the base
4
3. Larger leaves with stout, hardened marginal prickles throughout the margin, the larger prickles >2 mm long and often sitting on the tuberculate margins
3. Larger leaves entire or with weak marginal prickles to ca. 1 mm long only at the base of the leaves, the margin mostly straight
4. Most or all leaves recurved
4. Most leaves, and especially young ones, held straight (older leaves and those in shade sometimes weak and reflexed)
5
5. Leaves entire or with occasional sporadic prickles or marginal prickles weak, usually < 3 mm long and < 4 mm wide
5. Leaves with marginal hardened prickles throughout; marginal prickles of larger leaves fairly robust, usually > 3 mm long, to 8 mm wide
6
6. Leaves variegated or olive-green to blue-green, sometimes glaucous; flowering usually Jun-Aug; anthers 17.2-27.5 mm long; ovary 16.7-29 mm long
6. Leaves virid, bright to light green and not glaucous (or glaucous only at the leaf base); flowering Jan-Feb; anthers 18-24 mm long; ovary 25-40 mm long
Genus Synonyms
| Synonym | Full Citation | Basionym | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| No synonyms found. | |||