Agavaceae
(Agave Family)
Habit
- mostly shrubs (trees)
Leaves
- alternate or all basal in
rosette,
simple,
sheathing,
usually
succulent
and very
fibrous
Inflorescence
-
racemes,
spikes, or
panicles
Flowers
-
perfect,
mostly
regular;
hypanthium
in some
Sepals
- 3, often
petaloid (6
tepals)
Petals
- 3,
distinct or
connate, not
spotted
Stamens
- 6,
distinct,
free or
adnate to
hypanthium
Carpels
- 3,
connate;
ovary
superior to
inferior with
3
locules and
1-many
ovules per
locule
Fruit
- mostly a
loculicidal
capsule; seeds
with black crust
Diversity
- 9 genera/300 spp
Distribution
- all New World; widespread in dry subtropical areas
Economics
- food; fiber; fermented drink;
Notes
-
Our genera:
- Agave--300 species; from sw U.S. to S. America; mostly Mexican; cultivated for fiber, fermented drinks;
monocarpic and
synoecious;
- Yucca--40 species all North American; fls. edible; formerly used as fiber source;
synoecious;
Images
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