Agave schottii
Agave schottii | |
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Habit of Agave schottii | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Asparagaceae |
Subfamily: | Agavoideae |
Genus: | Agave |
Species: | A. schottii
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Binomial name | |
Agave schottii Engelm. | |
Synonyms[2] | |
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Agave schottii, also known by the common name Schott's century plant, is a shrub species within the genus
Distribution
Agave schottii is native to North America. It is found in the United States of America, in the states of Arizona and New Mexico. In Arizona, it is confined to the southern part of the state, in the counties of Pima, Santa Cruz, Graham, and Cochise.[6] In New Mexico, Agave schottii is found only in the southwestern tip, in Hidalgo County.[6] It is also found in the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Sonora, and Baja California.[6] Agave schottii var. treleasei has the status of Highly Safeguarded Native Plant and Salvage restricted, and is only found in Arizona's Pima County.[7]
Habitat and ecology
This species grows in
Morphology
Individuals of this species are flowering shrubs. Agave schottii, like other Agave species, are
The leaf rosettes are monocarpic.[10] Its pale to bright yellow flowers are held on branches onto the stem.[11] The flowers are spicate inflorescences, tubular in shape, and about 8 mm by 4 mm (0.31 in by 0.16 in) in size.[11] Some members of this species, like the var. treleasei, have paniculate inflorescences.[12] The flowers of Agave schottii produce a pleasant, sweet fragrance.[11]
Agave schottii fruit are loculicidal capsules, which are dry fruits that split open to release seeds.[12]
Agave schottii is composed of steroidal sapogenins in its pulp. This makes up about 2% of its dry weight.[13]
Pollination
Like most species in the genus Agave, this species has many possible pollinators, such as bats, butterflies, moths, bumblebees, honeybees, and hummingbirds.[11]
Agave schottii produces on average 1.6 μL of nectar per day.[11] This is generally considered a low amount of nectar produced for flowers that are pollinated by birds or insect. It produces most of its nectar nocturnally, and does not contain much sugar, providing further evidence for pollination by bats.[11] However, the yellow flowers, sweet smell, and low protein concentration of the nectar, suggests it is pollinated by insects and/or birds.[11]
Reproduction
Agave schottii is a
Usage
Agave plants, in general, have many uses, including: as a sweetener, to create tequila, and as an antibiotic.[15]
Agave schottii, in particular, has a very bitter taste. Thus, it is not suitable as a food for people or cattle.[16] The bitter taste comes from its steroidal sapogenin properties, which makes it usable as a soap. Agave schottii soap is called "amole", "maguey," and "amolillo" by Spanish-speaking people in the area of the plant's habitat, and by native peoples, like the Seri.[3] The Seri people also call Agave schottii "ikapanniim," which means to 'wash hair with'. They use it as a shampoo to clean, soften, and grow hair, as well as wash clothing.[3]
The sapogenin in Agave schottii is being researched for its potential role in anti-cancer treatments.[17]
References
- . Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ The Plant List, Agave schottii
- ^ JSTOR 30247584.
- ^ Flora of North America, vol26 p 447.
- ^ Engelmann, Georg. Transactions of the Academy of Science of St. Louis 3: 306–307. 1875.
- ^ a b c USDA, NRCS. "Plants Profile: Agave schottii Engelm. Schott's century plant". National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 27 June 2012.
- ^ USDA, NRCS. "Plants Profile: Agave schottii Engelm. var. treleasei (Toumey) Kearney & Peebles Trelease's century plant".
- ^ Center for Plant Conservation. "Agave schottii var. treleasei". CPC National Collection Plant Profile. Archived from the original on 26 October 2011. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
- ^ Plant Sciences Center of Sierra Vista, Arizona. "Agave schottii". Archived from the original on 25 July 2012. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
- ^ Faucon, Phillipe (2004). "Schott's Century Plant, Shindagger". Archived from the original on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
- ^ JSTOR 3669806.
- ^ a b "Agave schottii Engelmann". Flora of North America. 26: 444, 447. 1875. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
- ^ Nobel, Park. S. (1988). Environmental biology of Agaves and cacti. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. p. 9.
- ^ S2CID 20393886.
- ^ DuHamel, Jonathan (December 21, 2011). "Agave, a plant of many uses". Archived from the original on February 4, 2013. Retrieved 28 June 2012.
- ISBN 978-0816507757.
- PMID 5796449.