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Kaibab agave

Scientific Name: Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis

Family: Agavaceae

Category: Monocot

Growth: Subshrub, Shrub, Forb/herb

Duration: Perennial

Other Names:

       

Kaibab Agave (Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis)

The Kaibab agave, scientifically known as Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis, is a subspecies of the Utah agave (Agave utahensis). It is also known by the common names Kaibab Century Plant and Utah Century Plant.

Considerations for Pets

  • The plant has narrow, vertical bluish-green leaves.
  • It is a succulent.

Considerations for Children

  • The plant has narrow, vertical bluish-green leaves.
  • It is a succulent.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

  • Scientific Name: Agave utahensis var. kaibabensis (McKelvey) Breitung
  • Synonyms: Agave kaibabensis McKelvey, Agave utahensis subsp. kaibabensis (McKelvey) Gentry
  • Family: Asparagaceae
  • Kingdom: Plantae
  • Taxonomic Rank: Variety (within the species Agave utahensis) and subspecies

Distribution and Habitat

  • The Kaibab agave is primarily found on the high Kaibab Plateau around the Grand Canyon in northern Arizona.
  • It is native to the west and southwest USA, including the Mojave Desert (California, Nevada), northern Arizona, and southwest Utah.

Morphological Characteristics

  • It features narrow, vertical, bluish-green leaves that form a compact basal rosette.
  • The raceme inflorescence can reach a height of up to 5 meters (approximately 16-18 feet).
  • The flowers are generally yellow or yellow-green with bulbous features.

Ecological Role

  • It was previously considered a candidate species for protection under the US ESA, but it is no longer a candidate due to being more abundant and widespread than initially believed.

Quirky Facts

  • The Kaibab agave is a local subspecies of the Utah agave, specifically limited to the Kaibab Plateau.
  • Native Americans of the Grand Canyon area used agave, including the Kaibab agave, year-round.

Further Information

  • Encyclopedia of Life
  • Wikimedia Commons
  • iNaturalist.org