Plant
Parry's Agave
Agave parryiAlso known as Mescal Agave, Parry Agave
Parry's agave forms symmetrical, globe-like rosettes of tightly overlapping grey-green leaves, each tipped with a dark, needle-sharp terminal spine. After storing nutrients in arid soils for up to three decades, a single mature plant sends up a towering flower stalk laden with bright yellow blossoms. Once the energy-intensive bloom concludes, the main rosette dies, leaving behind a circle of genetically identical offset clones called pups.
SucculentArid-AdaptedFlowering
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyAutotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Herbivorous Insects
- Packrats
- Javelinas
ThreatsHabitat degradation, extreme drought, illegal collection
HabitatsDesert scrub, oak-juniper woodlands, Madrean sky islands
Life span10–30 years (monocarpic)
Classification
- OrderAsparagales
- FamilyAsparagaceae
- GenusAgave
- SpeciesAgave parryi
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Sharp leaf spines cause painful punctures, and raw sap causes skin irritation; handle with care.
- Why it is dangerous
- Calcium oxalate crystals and saponins in sap cause contact dermatitis, while sharp spines cause painful puncture wounds.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for tight, spherical rosettes of rigid, glaucous grey leaves tipped with dark brown spines.
- What to do
- Avoid touching cut leaves or sap, wear protective gloves when working near rosettes, and keep clear of spine tips.
Responsible observation
- Give It Space: Keep a respectful distance from sharp leaf spines along trails or garden paths.
- Look for Pups: Search around the base of mature rosettes for growing vegetative offshoots.
- Watch Flower Stalks: Observe tall blooming stalks in summer for visiting bats, bees, and hummingbirds.
Pollinator (c) Juan Cruzado Cortés, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Juan Cruzado Cortés · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion (c) CK2AZ, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by CK2AZ · cc-by
Close Relative "Closeup of Century Plant (Agave)" by Coconino NF Photography is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) J Brew, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by J Brew · cc-by-sa
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Desert Sands
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