Agave lechuguilla
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| Agave lechuguilla | |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Agavoideae |
| Genus: | Agave |
| Species: |
A. lechuguilla
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| Binomial name | |
| Agave lechuguilla |
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| Synonyms[2] | |
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Agave lechuguilla (common name in Chihuahua: lechuguilla, meaning "little lettuce") is an agave species found only in the Chihuahuan Desert, where it is an indicator species.[3] It typically grows on calcareous soils.[4] The plant flowers once in its life, then it dies. The flowers are a source of nutrients for insects, bats, and some birds.
The leaves are long, tough and rigid, with very sharp, hard points which can easily penetrate clothing and even leather, giving the colloquial name "shin-daggers". Native Americans have used fibers from the leaves (commonly called ixtle, but also a hard fiber known by the trade name Tampico fiber) to make ropes and mats. Nowadays, Tampico fiber is also being used in the industrial brush business. It is resistant to most chemicals, alkaline and acidic solutions, heat, etc.
The water stored in the flowering stalks of this plant, rich in salts and minerals, is sold in Mexico as a sport drink. The plant makes up a large part of the diet of the collared peccary (javelina) in some areas.[5] It is toxic to cattle and sheep, however.[6]
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Kew World Checklist
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Lechuguilla. Toxic plants of Texas. Texas A&M.
External links
Data related to Agave lechuguilla at Wikispecies
Media related to Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. at Wikimedia Commons- USDA Plants Profile for Agave lechuguilla (lechuguilla)
- University of Michigan - Dearborn: Native American Ethnobotany: Agave lecheguilla (Maguey lechuguilla)
- Thacker, H. 2013. Agave lechuguilla. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2014.3. Downloaded on 11 April 2015.
