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

Agave ''Agave'' (; ; ) is a genus of monocots native to the hot and arid regions of the Americas and the Caribbean, although some ''Agave'' species are also native to tropical areas of North America, such as Mexico. The genus is primarily known for ...

'' species found only in the

Chihuahuan Desert The Chihuahuan Desert ( es, Desierto de Chihuahua, ) is a desert ecoregion designation covering parts of northern Mexico and the southwestern United States. It occupies much of far West Texas, the middle to lower Rio Grande Valley and the lo ...

. 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 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 in 1859.

Distribution and habitat

It is an indicator species in the

, 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 or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines. In zoology ''Calcareous'' is used as an ad ...

soils.

Ecology

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

collared peccary The collared peccary (''Dicotyles tajacu'') is a species of artiodactyl (even-toed) mammal in the family Tayassuidae found in North, Central, and South America. It is the only member of the genus ''Dicotyles''. They are commonly referred to as ...

(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, cloven-hooved, herbivores. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae and the most widespread species of the genus ''Bos''. Adult females are referred to as cows and adult ma ...

and

sheep Sheep or domestic sheep (''Ovis aries'') are domesticated, ruminant mammals 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 domesticated ...

, 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''). 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