Agave parryi var. parryi (Century plant)

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Agave parryi var. parryi Engelm.

Century plant, Parry’s agave, mescal agave

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Liliidae	Includes lilies, orchids, and many others
Order	Asparagales	A diverse group that includes asparagus
Family	Asparagaceae	Agaves, asparagus, hyacinths, and others
Genus	Agave	From Greek, meaning “noble”
Species	parryi	Named for botanist Charles Parry
var.	parryi	Parry’s variety of Parry’s agave

About plant names...

Varieties of Parry's agave are native to Arizona and Mexico, between 4000-9000' (1.2-2.7 km) in elevation. Few sources acknowledge this variety, but I couldn't resolve the uncertainty.

Identification: Rosettes reach 24" (60 cm) tall and 3' (91 cm) around, and resemble giant artichokes. Leaves are 10-16" (25-40 cm) long and 3-5" (7.6-12 cm) wide, wide and flat or somewhat oval in shape, tapering to a sharp dark tan, brown, or black tip. They are smooth and rigid, about ½-¾" (1.3-1.9 cm) thick, edged with teeth, light grayish- or bluish-green. The flower stalk is 11-20' (3.4-6.1 m) high, branched at the top into 18-30 branches, each with bright lemon yellow flowers. Flowering occurs between June and August.

Edibility: Indigenous peoples including the Apaches prepared this agave in many different ways as a food source.

References:

Irish, Mary & Irish, Gary, Agaves, Yuccas and Related Plants: A Gardener’s Guide, Timber Press, 2000, p. 146 (discusses Agave parryi but does not acknowledge this variety)

Online References:

Desert-tropicals.com

SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network

George and Audrey DeLange's Arizona wildflower site (Agave parryi var. truncata)

The United States Department of Agriculture's Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN)

The Texas AgriLife Extension Service and Texas A&M University, Texas A&M System (Agave parryi)

The JC Raulston Arboretum (Agave parryi subsp. parryi var. truncata 'J.C. Raulston')

Agave chihuahuana Trelease

Agave patonii Trelease

Agave scabra

Agave wizlizeni

Agave americana var. latifolia

Agave parryi var. parryi description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 25 May 2020.

9/7/2010 · Tower Hill Botanic Garden, Boylston, Massachusetts
≈ 31 × 21" (78 × 52 cm)

Range: Zones 9-11:

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