Agave lophantha Schiede. Common name: Thorn-crested Agave. Phenology: Apr-May. Habitat: Sandy and sandy loam desert flats or disturbed areas near habitations. Distribution: S. TX south to c. Mexico (COA, HID, NLE, QRO, SLP, TAM, VER), occasionally cultivated and rarely escaping outside its native range (E. Keith, pers. comm.).
ID notes: When flowers or old inflorescences aren’t evident, it can be recognized by its distinctive grayish green leaves often with a medial lighter green stripe. It is occasionally cultivated north of its native range and is more cold hardy than other Agave species where it rarely escapes cultivation.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Thiede et al. (2020) determined that A. lophantha was validly published, has priority over A. univittata, and designated a neotype for both names.
Synonymy ⓘ: = K4, Mex, POWO, Tx; = Agave univittata Haw. — FNA26, NS. Basionym: Agave lophantha Schiede 1850
Links to other floras: = Agave univittata - FNA26
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Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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Horticultural Information
No horticultural data found for this taxon.