Agave angustifolia

Agave angustifolia Haw.

Common Names: Narrow Century Plant, Caribbean Agave

Family: Asparagaceae

Habit: Agave angustifolia grows as an acaulescent shrub.  The leaves are arranged in a basal rosette producing new leaves from the center every year.  The linear to lanceolate leaves are bright green with a white margin, up to 150 cm in length and 10 cm wide.  The leaf apex is modified into a stout black spine and the leaf margin with brown, recurved prickles. The main plant suckers extensively from its base when the parent plant dies off.

The actinomorphic flowers are arranged in a terminal panicle to 6 meters in height.  The calyx has 3 unfused green sepals.  The corolla has 3 yellowish green to bright 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.  The seeds may germinate and grow while still attached to the parent plant.

Habitat: Agave angustifolia occurs Human Altered environments (yards and gardens)

Distribution in Bahamas/Globally:  Agave angustifolia is NOT native to the Lucayan Archipelago. It is native to the Mexico and Central America.

Medicinal/Cultural/Economic usage:   Agave angustifolia has long been grown as an ornamental for its variegated green and white leaves.