Agave utahensis

Agave utahensis

Agave utahensis is a species of the genus Agave ( Agave ). The specific epithet utahensis refers to the presence of the species in the U.S. state of Utah. It is the most northerly occurring species of the genus. English common names are " Utah Agave " and " Yant ".

Description

Agave utahensis forms small, compact groups with stature heights of 10 to 30 cm and 25 to 40 in diameter. The yellow- green to bluish, located variable, stiff or curved, lance-shaped leaves with linealischen to the short, sharp, gray to brown Enddorn are long and 20-30 mm wide and 30 cm. The leaf margins are irregularly toothed. The at the leaf base on the leaf margin finely toothed, strong, dark green, fibrous, linealischen to oblong, pointed leaves are 5-10 cm long and up to 14 mm wide.

The Rispige or grape-like inflorescence is 150 to 350 cm high. The cup-shaped yellow flowers are 25-30 mm long and 9-12 mm wide.

The egg-shaped to oblong, dreikammerigen capsule fruits are 9-12 mm long and 8 mm wide. The shiny black seeds measure 2 to 3 mm in diameter.

The flowering period extends from May to June.

Systematics and distribution

Agave utahensis is common in the southwestern United States in the states of California, Utah, Nevada and Arizona in different soil formations on rocky slopes, in grassland, desert and mountainous areas and open woodlands in 1000-1700 m altitude. It is Yucca elata subsp. utahensis, Yucca baccata, as well as many species of cacti as Sclerocactus parviflorus subsp. havasupaiensis, Navajoa peeblesiana subsp. fickeiseniorum, Escobaria missouriensis subsp. marstonii, Echinocactus polycephalus subsp. xeranthemoides and Echinocereus triglochidiatus subsp. mojavensis socialized.

The first description by George Engelmann was published in 1871. A synonym is Agave utahensis var haynaldii ( Engelm. ) A.Terracc. (1885 ).

We distinguish the following sub- types:

  • Agave utahensis subsp. utahensis
  • Agave utahensis subsp. kaibabensis ( McKelvey ) Gentry

The species belongs to the subgenus Littaea and there is the Urceolatae group assigned. Agave utahensis can in dry state short periods of frost tolerate up to minus 15 ° C, while subspecies Agave utahensis subsp. kaibabensis the South Rim region at the Grand Canyon at 2000 m altitude is about frosts down to minus 20 ° C.

Evidence

  • August J. Breitung: Agave utahensis. In: The Agaves. The Cactus & Succulent Journal Yearbook, 1968, p 21
  • Howard Scott Gentry: Agave utahensis. In: Agaves of Continental North America. The University of Arizona Press, 1982, pp. 257-259.
  • Zlatko Janeba: Agave utahensis complex. In: Special Kaktusy 2, 2010, pp. 5-14
  • James L. Reveal, Wendy C. Hodgson: Agave utahensis. In: Flora of North America. 2002, pp. 450-451 (online).
  • Joachim Thiede: Agave utahensis. In: Urs Eggli (ed.): Succulents Encyclopedia. Monocotyledons ( monocots ). Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3662-7, p 69
Sereno Watson
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