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Succulents
Agavaceae (Asparagaceae – subfamily Agavoidaea)
Members of the agave family are native to
the Americas. They are currently grouped
into a new larger family where agave is
relegated to the subfamily Agavoidaea in the
Asparagaceae.
Many of the succulent members are in the
Agave and Yucca genera.
Agave parryi
Agave scabra
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Succulents
Agavaceae - Agave
Agave plants generally produce fleshy leaves
in a basal rosette.
The plants flower once and die (monocarpic),
but it can take many years to initiate a
flowering stem. Although not taking 100
years to flower, the common name for
several species is century plant.
Agave americana
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Succulents
Agavaceae - Agave
Agave has a unique reproductive system. In addition to producing seeds, it
produces many small vegetative plantlets within the inflorescence that are
used for reproduction as the mother plant dies.
Senescing
mother
plant.
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Agave attenuata
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Succulents
Agavaceae - Agave
Agave species are used in the production of the alcoholic drinks mescal and tequila.
The inner portion of the stem and young flower stalk with the leaves and roots
removed are harvested and used for fermentation.
Agave murpheyi is used for mescal.
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Agave tequilana is used for tequila.
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Succulents
Agavaceae - Yucca
Yucca are perennial members of the
agave family. Plants range from sharpleaved shrubs to large trees. All have
large panicles of white flowers.
Yucca rostata
Yucca filamentosa
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Succulents
Agavaceae - Yucca
Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia ) is a large
tree-form of yucca with each stem (arm)
terminating in an inflorescence.
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Succulents
Agavaceae - Yucca
Pollination of yucca flowers occurs in a
mutualistic relationship with the yucca moth.
The moth acts as the pollinator spreading
pollen between plants.
The moth lays eggs in the developing fruits
and the larvae eat a portion of the seeds, but
leave some for future seedling development.
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