Agave ackliniola

Agave ackliniola Trel.

Family: Asparagaceae

Habit: Agave ackliniola grows as an acaulescent, semi succulent shrub.  The leaves are arranged in a basal rosette producing new leaves from the center every year.  The leaves are light grayish green, up to 1 meter in length and 15 cm in width, plicate. The leaf apex is modified into a stout, red brown, grooved spine. Leaf apical spine recurved, and the leaf margin is reddish with curved prickles 7-10 mm apart.  Producing pups at the base.

The actinomorphic flowers are arranged in a terminal panicle to 5 meters in height.  The calyx has 3 unfused green sepals.  The corolla has 3 yellow, unfused petals.  There are 6 unfused stamens.  The superior ovary has 3 locules and numerous seeds.  The fruit is a light brown capsule at maturity.  The plant uses the entire apical meristem during flowering and will die off after the fruits become mature.

Habitat: Agave ackliniola grows in Dry Broadleaf Evergreen Formation – Shrublands on a sand substrate.

Distribution:  Agave ackliniola is an endemic species known to occur in the southern central island groupings of the Lucayan Archipelago.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage: Agave ackliniola is not used medicinally in the Bahamas.