Agavaceae Dumortier. Common name: Agave Family.
Contributed by Eric L. Keith & Alan. S. Weakley
A family of about 25 genera and 640 species, herbs and rosette shrubs, of temperate and tropical America. The placement of Camassia, Schoenolirion, and Hastingsia, sometimes grouped as Hyacinthaceae subfamily Chlorogaloideae, has been uncertain; they are better placed in the Agavaceae, a position supported by molecular, serological, and biogeographic evidence. Hostaceae is included here based on molecular analyses (Steele et al. 2012). Other species have been variously treated as part of the Amaryllidaceae or Liliaceae. Alternatively, Agavaceae has also been considered in a broader sense to include taxa now treated in Nolinaceae and Ruscaceae. Some authors prefer to treat Agavaceae within Asparagaceae as subfamily Agavoideae.
ID notes: The Agavaceae in our region consists of herbaceous or woody, usually xerophytic perennials with fleshy or leathery leaves from a basal rosette or occasionally growing into a small tree or shrub. Flowering stems are usually panicles or racemes with alternate leafy bracts. Dried specimens often don’t retain critical characteristics used in the keys, so photographs of fresh flowers are often important for accurate identification.
References: Bogler & Simpson (1995); Bogler & Simpson (1996); Kubitzki (1998c) In Kubitzki (1998a); Speta (1998) In Kubitzki (1998a); Steele et al. (2012); Verhoek (1998) In Kubitzki (1998a); Verhoek & Hess (2002) In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (2002a). Show full citations.
Hover over a shape, letter, icon, or arrow on the map for definition or see the legend. Data for arrows not developed for genera and families which may have species only occurring outside the flora area.
© Alan M. Cressler | Yucca | Original Image ⭷
© Keith Bradley | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Agave | Original Image ⭷
no rights reserved, uploaded by Jade Fortnash | Agave decipiens source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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