Desert Agave

Desert Agave

Manipulated Photo.

Agave deserti (Desert Agave, Mescal,
Century Plant or Maguey) is an agave
native to desert regions in southern
California, Arizona, and Baja California.
Its tall yellow flower stalks dot dry rocky
slopes and washes throughout the spring.
It forms a rosette of fleshy gray-green
leaves 20-70 cm long and 4.5-10 cm
broad, with sharp spines along the
edges and at the tips. It flowers at
maturity (20-40 yrs, sending up an
inflorescence 2-6 m tall (An
inflorescence is a group or cluster
of flowers arranged on a stem that is
composed of a main branch or a
complicated arrangement of branches).
The plant bears numerous yellow,
funnel-shaped flowers 3-6 cm long.
Desert Agave is drought tolerant but
requires good drainage.

The desert dwelling Indians used
fibers from the leaves to make cloth,
bowstrings, and rope. Young flower
stalks, buds, and hearts of plants
were roasted and eaten. Natives of
southern California commonly harvested
the “heads” using a specialized digging
stick and roasted the leaves and heart
alike. Food thus obtained often became
a dietary staple, even into drought years.

Alcoholic drinks were also manufactured
from the sweet juices of this and other agaves.

Info from Wikipedia on internet.

Desert Agave belongs to the following groups:

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