Sotol
Desert Spoon
Dasylirion wheeleri
This Sotol survived a fire that burned much of the vegetation from the foothills of the Four Peaks area eastern Maricopa Co., Arizona. I have contributed this photo to Wikimedia where there are other photos of agaves.
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RANGE: This large succulent reaching 2 meters or more in height, appears
in upper Sonoran Desert, chaparral and encinal vegetation types and is popular
in city xeriscapes. It also a major component of the
Chihuahuan Desert.
LEAVES: The long strap like leaves are moderately thick and have sharp
prickles closely spaced along the margins. The base of each leaf expands
abruptly giving a so-called spoon-shape. Sotol leaves produce a resistant and
flexible fiber that has been used by the Tarahumara and others in weaving
baskets.
FLOWERS: Thousands of very small flowers appear on a 2 to 3 meter tall
spike each year. They are creamy-yellow in color.
SUCCULENT: The central stem stores water and starch which has been
harvested and fermented to produce an alcoholic beverage, Sotol.