“Agave potatorum”

Another “monocarpic” plant (blooms once and then dies).
This is a spike of perhaps five leaves tightly wrapped together. (Reminds me slightly of the cans of rolls or biscuits you can buy at the supermarket.) What struck me about this plant is that the leaves retain the marks of the edges of the other leaves with which they were wrapped up in this spike. I should try another shot of this plant to show the surface of one leaf…

The dark spots on the spike will of course become spines on the edges of the leaves when they separate.

I did not find a common name for this plant other than "Agave." Oh, the specific epithet? From “Cactus art: The world of cacti & succulents,” http://www.cactus-art.biz/schede/AGAVE/Agave_potatorum/Agave_potatorum/Agave_potatorum.htm » “The specific name ‘potatorum’ has nothing to do with potatoes, it comes from the genitive of the Latin word ‘potator’ meaning ‘of the drinkers’ in reference to the use of this plant in making alcoholic beverages.”

Species page at PhytoImages, http://phytoimages.siu.edu/cgi-bin/dol/dol_terminal.pl?taxon_name=Agave_potatorum&rank=binomial

Photo taken at SIUC Plant Biology Greenhouse, http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/facilities/plant-biology-facilities/greenhouse/index.php

1 year ago (“One question: Half-full or half-empty?”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2014-02-09
2 years ago (“A 4-frame day…”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2013-02-09
3 years ago (“4, 5 and 6. And 12, 13 and 14. A visit to the dentist.”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2012-02-09
4 years ago (“Unraveling lunch”): http://365project.org/rhoing/365/2011-02-09

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