Parry Agave
Agave parryi
Observed in Reynold's Canyon, Sierra Ancha, Gila Co., Arizona, USA. 05 June 2010.
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FLOWERS: The flowers are borne on tall (3-5 m) branching stalks
that pull water and nutrients from the basal leaves leaving them to yellow and
whither. There are six similarly colored tepals (petals and sepals).
LEAVES: Leaves are all set at ground level and are very stiff and sharp
pointed. In addition the leaf margins have tough, recurved, and also sharp
points. Leaves are grayish green in color.
SUCCULENT: The leaves and central stem store quantities of water and
energy stored as starch/sugars. By the time flowering is finished and the main
stem has died, one or more pups will have started from the underground stems.
The cycle from pup to flowering is considerably less than a century.
RANGE: This is the most common agave growing within the elevation and
moisture zones of ponderosa pines. Several additional similar agave species
reach into the pinyon-junper woodland habitats.
ARMED. The leaves are tipped with a hardened spine making the long,
stiff leaf look like a lethal dagger.
Asparagaceae -- Asparagas Family
(Agavaceae)
More Information:
- Southwest Environemtnal Information Network
- USDA Plant Profile
- ITIS Taxonomic Report
- Wikipedia
- Google Images
- Google Scholar Literature Search