Flora of the Southeastern United States

Agave americana Linnaeus ssp. americana. Common name: Century-plant, Maguey. Phenology: Jun-Jul. Habitat: Sandy desert scrub, disturbed areas, dunes, spread weakly from cultivation. Distribution: Native of Mexico and s. TX, and rarely escaping in e. TX east to s. FL and north to s. NC.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Taxonomy Comments: There are various horticultural forms of this species, sometimes accorded taxonomic rank. One has longitudinally striped leaves that have recurved tips. Others are solid blue-green with straight leaves.

Other Comments: Despite its common name, plants usually only live 10 to 30 years. Individual plants often grow suckers from the main rosettes and can form large clumps. Sap from the leaves can cause contact dermatitis due to calcium oxalate crystals (Salinas et al. 2001).

Synonymy ⓘ: = POWO; < Agave americana L. — Meso6, Mex, S, S13, SFla, WH3; > Agave americana L. ssp. americana — NS; > Agave americana L. ssp. americana var. americana — FNA26, Franck (2012); >< Agave americana L. ssp. americana var. americana — K4; > Agave americana L. ssp. americana var. expansa — FNA26, K4, Franck (2012); > Agave americana L. var. americana — NS, Tx; > Agave americana var. expansa — NS; > Agave americana L. var. marginata Trel. — Tx; > Agave americana L. var. medio-picta Trel. — Tx; > Agave americana L. var. striata Trel. — Tx; > Agave caeciliana A.Berger. Basionym: Agave americana L. 1753

Links to other floras: > Agave americana ssp. americana var. americana - FNA26; > Agave americana ssp. americana var. expansa - FNA26

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: UPL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: UPL (taxonomic split from wetland indicator species)

Heliophily ⓘ: 9