''Agave lechuguilla'' (common name in Chihuahua: ''lechuguilla'', meaning "small lettuce") is an ''

Agave ''Agave'' (; ; ) is a genus of monocots native to the arid regions of the Americas. The genus is primarily known for its succulent and xerophytic species that typically form large Rosette (botany), rosettes of strong, fleshy leaves. Many plan ...

'' species found only in the Chihuahuan Desert. The plant flowers once in its life and then dies.

Description

The plant reproduces most often through underground offshoots, creating large colonies. It also can flower at any time after the plant has reached three to 21 years of age, producing a leafless stalk that can reach in height. The flower clusters are located at the top and are funnel-shaped in purples, reds, and yellows. The plant dies after flowering in May–July. The

leaves A leaf (: leaves) is a principal appendage of the stem of a vascular plant, usually borne laterally above ground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", while the leaves, stem, ...

are long, tough, and rigid, with very sharp, hard points that can easily penetrate clothing and even leather, giving the colloquial name "shin-daggers".

Taxonomy

Charles Wright first collected the plant in 1849 and it was described by

John Torrey John Torrey (August 15, 1796 – March 10, 1873) was an American botany, botanist, chemist, and physician. Throughout much of his career, he was a teacher of chemistry, often at multiple universities, while he also pursued botanical work, focus ...

in 1859.

Distribution and habitat

It is an

indicator species A bioindicator is any species (an indicator species) or group of species whose function, population, or status can reveal the qualitative status of the environment. The most common indicator species are animals. For example, copepods and other sma ...

in the Chihuahuan Desert, the only place it is found. It typically grows on

calcareous Calcareous () is an adjective meaning "mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate", in other words, containing lime (mineral), lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of Science, scientific disciplines. In zoology ''Calcare ...

soils.

Ecology

The plant makes up a large part of the diet of the

collared peccary The collared peccary (''Dicotyles tajacu'') is a peccary, a species of artiodactyl (even-toed) mammal in the family Peccary, Tayassuidae found in North America, North, Central America, Central, and South America. It is the only member of the gen ...

(javelina) in some areas.Corn, J. L. and R. J. Warren. (1985)
Seasonal food habits of the collared peccary in South Texas.
''Journal of Mammalogy''. 66:1 155-59. Additionally, the flowers are a source of nutrients for insects, bats, and some birds. The plant is toxic to

cattle Cattle (''Bos taurus'') are large, domesticated, bovid ungulates widely kept as livestock. They are prominent modern members of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus '' Bos''. Mature female cattle are calle ...

and

sheep Sheep (: sheep) or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are a domesticated, ruminant mammal typically kept as livestock. Although the term ''sheep'' can apply to other species in the genus '' Ovis'', in everyday usage it almost always refers to d ...

, however.Lechuguilla.
Toxic plants of Texas. Texas A&M.

Uses

The water stored in the flowering stalks of this plant, rich in salts and minerals, is sold in Mexico as a sport drink. Native Mexicans have used fibers from the leaves (commonly called ''

ixtle Ixtle, also known by the trade name Tampico fiber, is a stiff fiber crop, plant fiber obtained from a number of Mexican plants, chiefly species of ''Agave'' and ''Yucca''. The principal source is ''Agave lechuguilla'', the dominant ''Agave'' spec ...

''). Roots of the plants were used as soap by Native Americans.

References

External links

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USDA Plants Profile for ''Agave lechuguilla'' (lechuguilla)University of Michigan - Dearborn: Native American Ethnobotany: ''Agave lecheguilla'' (Maguey lechuguilla)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Agave lechuguilla lechuguilla Flora of the Chihuahuan Desert Flora of Chihuahua (state) Flora of New Mexico Flora of Texas Plants described in 1859 Taxa named by John Torrey Least concern flora of North America Least concern flora of the United States Saponaceous plants