agave

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Centuryplant
• American agave
• American-aloe
• century-plant

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Aloe americana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified within the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it falls under the order Asparagales and the family Asparagaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Agave, specifically as the species Agave americana.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution across several regions of Europe. In Northern Europe, its presence can be noted within Great Britain. Moving toward Southwestern Europe, it is found on the islands of the Baleares. The species also inhabits the coastal areas of Corse. Additionally, its range extends through the territories of France and Portugal.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Agave americana is characterized by its adaptation to lowland environments, where it thrives across a broad altitudinal spectrum. It can be found at elevations ranging from sea level (0 m AMSL) up to a maximum of 2500 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range of approximately 1050 m AMSL. Within these habitats, the plant utilizes specific biological mechanisms for survival, including the presence of active defense traits to deter herbivores and environmental stressors.

Defense :

yes

Elevational range max:

2500 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1050 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Agave americana is characterized by its status as a perennial organism, following a long-term developmental strategy that prioritizes resource accumulation over many years. As a phanerophyte, the plant maintains its structural prominence through its large, fleshy leaves, yet it also functions as a hemicryptophyte, utilizing protected buds at the soil surface to endure environmental stresses. Throughout its existence, the plant remains evergreen, maintaining its photosynthetic capacity and distinctive architectural form across different seasons without the need for seasonal leaf shedding. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and a robust, evergreen growth habit allows it to dominate its ecological niche, eventually culminating in a singular, massive reproductive event.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Agave americana is characterized by its robust growth form as a woody herb. This terrestrial plant is self-supporting rather than being a climber or a liana, and it functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variation in plant height, ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 8 m, with an average height of approximately 4.65 m. As a terrestrial species, it does not exhibit epiphytic or aquatic characteristics, maintaining a stable, non-climbing structural presence in its natural habitat.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

8 m

Plant height mean:

4.65 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Agave americana is defined by highly specialized adaptations for water conservation and resource management in arid environments. Centrally, the plant utilizes the Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) photosynthetic pathway, which allows it to fix carbon dioxide at night to minimize transpirational water loss during the heat of the day. This metabolic efficiency is supported by significant succulence, enabling the plant to store substantial quantities of water within its tissues. The morphological structure of the plant facilitates this water storage through its robust leaves, which exhibit a substantial size range; leaf lengths typically vary from a minimum of 100 cm to a maximum of 200 cm, while leaf widths range from a mean and minimum of 15 cm up to a maximum of 25 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability to support its growth and structural development.

Leaf length max:

200 cm

Leaf length min:

100 cm

Leaf width max:

25 cm

Leaf width mean:

15 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

CAM

Succulence :

yes

Reproduction

The reproduction of Agave americana is a complex sexual process characterized by bisexual flowers arranged in a large panicle inflorescence. The flowering period typically begins in July and concludes in August, though the timing can be variable. The flowers are green in color and range in length from a minimum of 7 cm to a maximum of 9 cm. This species relies on biotic pollination syndromes, specifically utilizing insects and bats to facilitate the transfer of pollen; notably, self-fertilization is absent, ensuring genetic diversity. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruit in the form of a dehiscence-style capsule. These capsules typically measure between 4 cm and 5 cm in length. Each fruit is highly prolific, containing more than 1,000 seeds with a mean seed mass of approximately 0.01862 g. The dispersal of these seeds follows an unspecialized syndrome, though it is also noted to be anthropochorous, meaning human activity can play a role in its distribution.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Flower colour :

green

Flower length max:

9 cm

Flower length min:

7 cm

Flowering time :

Jul

Flowering time :

Aug

Fruit length max:

5 cm

Fruit length min:

4 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Inflorescence :

panicle

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bat

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed mass mean:

0.01862 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

>1000

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Agave americana has 2 reported plant parts identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem.

Leaf

1. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica
2. Planta medica
3. Letters in applied microbiology
4. Journal of advanced pharmaceutical technology & research
5. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Stem

1. Letters in applied microbiology

Chemicals

Agave americana has 22 reported phytochemicals identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Saponins, Flavonoids, Tannins, Tigogenin, hecogenin.

Saponins

1. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology
2. Journal of experimental pharmacology
3. Pharmacognosy research

Flavonoids

1. Journal of experimental pharmacology
2. Pharmacognosy research

Tannins

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Journal of experimental pharmacology

Tigogenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

hecogenin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

Chlorogenin

1. Dr. Duke

Coumarins

1. Pharmacognosy research

D-glucuronic acid

1. Dr. Duke

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Agave americana has 44 reported activities identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antidiabetic, Acaricide, Acetylcholinergic, Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker, Antialzheimeran.

Antidiabetic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Acaricide

1. Dr. Duke

Acetylcholinergic

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

Antialzheimeran

1. Dr. Duke

Antibacterial

1. Letters in applied microbiology

Anticancer

1. Letters in applied microbiology

Antidementia

1. Dr. Duke

Antiedemic

1. Dr. Duke

Antifungal

1. Letters in applied microbiology

Medicinal Uses

Agave americana has 10 reported medicinal uses identified across 7 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include inflammation, E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations