Tuesday 14 April 2009

Agave atrovirens











Looks a bit like what is known in California as "Green Giant"



Any suggestions on ID?

Thanks to knowledgeable friends for identifying this one as

Agave atrovirens Karw. ex Salm-Dyck
Hort. Dyck.: 302 (1834).

Grown at Monserrate since the 19th century. Early literature refers this as Agave coccinea.

2 comments:

Rubus said...

The leaves aren't curved as an Agave salmiana and it has few leaves. Any reason not to be a regular Agave americana?

Gerald Luckhurst said...

Rubus

Thanks for your comment. Agaves are a very tricky group and require expert knowledge. My Gurus have identified this one as [i]Agave atrovirens[/i] It seems that most if not all the Agaves at Monserrate belong to this species. Except of course the [i]A. americana[/i] 'Marginata' in the tazzi around the palacio.

Gerald