Agave
Genus of flowering plants closely related to yucca / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dear Wikiwand AI, let's keep it short by simply answering these key questions:
Can you list the top facts and stats about Agave?
Summarize this article for a 10 year old
Agave (/əˈɡɑːvi/; also UK: /əˈɡeɪvi/;[3] Anglo-Hispanic, also US: /əˈɡɑːveɪ/)[4] is a genus of monocots native to the arid regions of the Americas. The genus is primarily known for its succulent and xerophytic species that typically form large rosettes of strong, fleshy leaves.[5] Agave now includes species formerly placed in a number of other genera, such as Manfreda, ×Mangave, Polianthes and Prochnyanthes.
Agave | |
---|---|
Agave americana | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Monocots |
Order: | Asparagales |
Family: | Asparagaceae |
Subfamily: | Agavoideae |
Genus: | Agave L.[1] |
Type species | |
Agave americana | |
Species | |
See text. See also full listing. | |
Synonyms[1] | |
|
Many plants in this genus may be considered perennial, because they require several to many years to mature and flower.[5][page needed][6] However, most Agave species are more accurately described as monocarpic rosettes or multiannuals, since each individual rosette flowers only once and then dies; a small number of Agave species are polycarpic.[5][page needed][6]
Along with plants from the closely related genera Yucca, Hesperoyucca, and Hesperaloe, various Agave species are popular ornamental plants in hot, dry climates, as they require very little supplemental water to survive.[6] Most Agave species grow very slowly.[5] Some Agave species are known by the common name "century plant".[7]
Maguey is a Spanish word that refers to all of the large-leafed plants in the Asparagaceae family,[citation needed] including agaves and yuccas. Maguey flowers are eaten in many indigenous culinary traditions of Mesoamerica.