Agave americana
System : Terrestrial
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Plantae
Magnoliophyta
Liliopsida
Liliales
Agavaceae
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Common name
American-aloe (English), wild century-plant (English), century plant (English), American agave (English), American century plant (English), maguey americano (Spanish), Amerikanische agave (German), agave (English), garingboom (Afrikaans), pite (French), spreading century-plant (English), maguey (English), American aloe (English), yucca (English), agave d'Amérique (French), Hundert-jährige agave (German), pita común (Spanish)
Synonym
Agave rasconensis , Trel. ex Standl.
Agave zonata , Trel.
Aloe americana , (L.) Crantz
Similar species
Furcraea spp.
Summary
Agave americana is a large, rhizomatous succulent that grows in a wide range of conditions including cliffs, urban areas, woodlands, grasslands, riparian zones, beaches and sandy areas, and rocky slopes. A. americana is tolerant of wind, salt, high temperatures, and extreme drought. It can grow in shallow, very dry, low fertility soil and can colonise bare sand. It is grown for many reasons- ornamental, medicinal and agricultural. In South Australia Agave americana mainly invades disturbed sites, road sides and coastal vegetation. It may also harbour introduced animal species, such as rabbits, making feral animal control more difficult.
Species Description
Agave americana is a large and stemless succulent, with leaves that can grow up to 2 m. Leaves are robust and spear-like, and are in a basal rosette. The leaves have sharp hooks or spines on the edges, and very sharp tips. Leaves have stomata which open at night, taking in carbon dioxide. Flowers are yellow and occur rapidly after maturity, when the plant is 10 - 15 years old. Flowers are at the top of a long stalk (up to 10 m), and are branched, candelebra-like, from the main stalk. These are followed by seed capsules with seeds (black, 5 cm long). The plant dies after fruiting (Badana & Pugnaire 2004; Harris 2008).
Notes
A. americana sap can cause pain and dermatitis in humans if it comes in contact with skin (Kerner et al. 1973; Ricks et al. 1999). The sap has also been shown to have anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory properties (Jin et al. 2004; Parmar et al. 1992; Peana et al. 1997). A. americana appears in the FDA Poisonous Plant Database (McGuffin et al. 2000).

Direct children of A. americana: A. americana ssp. americana L.; A. americana ssp. marginata Trel.; A. americana ssp. protamericana Gentry; A. americana var. expansa (Jacobi) Gentry; A. americana var. oaxacensis Gentry (Catalogue of Life 2010; USDA-ARS 2010; ITIS 2010; Smith & Figueiredo 2007)

Uses
Agave americana has several uses: ornamental, medicinal, as a vertebrate poison, agricultural, fodder, erosion control (USDA-ARS, 2010). A. americana is grown as an ornamental on all continents, except Antarctica (Nobel 1990).

Fibres derived from A. americana have been shown to be more extensible than other natural fibres, and also exhibit high tensile strength and are low density and have a high moisture content (Msahli 2000, in El Oudiani et al. 2009). Ropes and twines made from A. americana fibre were important agriculturally (otherwise) in North Africa up until the 1960's (El Oudiani et al. 2009; Jaouadi et al. 2009).

A. americana is grown in South Africa as a fodder crop, although it cannot be directly grazed and requires processing before feeding (De Cock 1980; Le Houérou 2000; Myburgh 1994). A. americana is also used to brew an alcoholic liquor beverage, in Mexico and South Africa (Boguslavsky et al. 2007).

A. americana is used in Mexico, Brazil, India and China as a traditional treatment, as it has anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and can be used as a diuretic (Boscolo et al. 2010, Jin et al. 2004; Parmar et al. 1992; Peana et al. 1997; Rivera et al. 2010).

Habitat Description
Agave americana can grow in a wide range conditions, including cliffs, urban areas, woodlands, grasslands, riparian zones, beaches and sandy areas, and rocky slopes. A. americana is tolerant of wind, salt, high temperatures, and extreme drought. It can grow in shallow, very dry, low fertility soil and can colonise bare sand (ARC 2007; Badano & Pugnaire 2004; Bezona et al. 2009; Le Houérou 2000).
Reproduction
Agave americana is monocarpic, i.e. it dies after fruiting. Bats, birds and insects are important pollinators of A. americana flowers. The black seeds produced have a high germination rate, though the majority of seedlings die 8-9 days post-germination. A. americana can also reproduce vegetatively from plant and stolon fragments, and via rhizomes. Bulbils are also produced in the floral stems, which can also give rise to daughter plants (Nobel 1988, Arizaga & Ezcurra 2002, in Badano & Pugnaire 2004; Gentry 1982, in Gordon et al. 2005).
Pathway
A. americana is thought to be unintentionally introduced into sand dunes where it becomes invasive (Badano & Pugnaire 2004).

Principal source:

Compiler: IUCN SSC Invasive Species Specialist Group (ISSG) with support from the Auckland Regional Council (ARC)

Review: Francisco I. Pugnaire, Estacion Experimental de Zonas Aridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas

Publication date: 2011-01-18

Recommended citation: Global Invasive Species Database (2024) Species profile: Agave americana. Downloaded from http://iucngisd.org/gisd/species.php?sc=1664 on 23-11-2024.

General Impacts
One of the major impacts of Agave americana is its large leaves shading out native plant species. A. americana also has a very dense network of rhizome offshoots, which could draw resources away from native species. The rhizomatous nature of A. americana could also alter the nutrient status of the soil. A. americana may have adverse effects on human and animal health (Badano & Pugnaire 2004; Macdonald et al. 2003; NPPA 2008; Williams 2008).
Management Info
Control of Agave americana is mainly achieved by using a combination of physical and chemical management techniques. Small plants are usually removed manually, while larger plants can be treated manually and/or with herbicide. Effective chemical treatments include cutting down leaves close to the ground and painting the stump immediately with herbicide and injection of herbicide. Follow up treatment may be necessary, especially for larger plants (Bickerton 2006; Ecoscape (Australia) Pty Ltd 2005; Weedbusters 2010).
Countries (or multi-country features) with distribution records for Agave americana
Informations on Agave americana has been recorded for the following locations. Click on the name for additional informations.
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Location Status Invasiveness Occurrence Source
Details of Agave americana in information
Status
Invasiveness
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Occurrence
Source
Introduction
Species notes for this location
Location note
Management notes for this location
Impact
Mechanism:
Outcome:
Ecosystem services:
Impact information
One of the major impacts of Agave americana is its large leaves shading out native plant species. A. americana also has a very dense network of rhizome offshoots, which could draw resources away from native species. The rhizomatous nature of A. americana could also alter the nutrient status of the soil. A. americana may have adverse effects on human and animal health (Badano & Pugnaire 2004; Macdonald et al. 2003; NPPA 2008; Williams 2008).
Red List assessed species 3: CR = 3;
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Locations
AUSTRALIA
MALAWI
MALTA
NEW ZEALAND
SPAIN
Mechanism
[7] Competition
[1] Disease transmission
[1] Poisoning/Toxicity
Outcomes
[8] Environmental Ecosystem - Habitat
  • [1] Modification of hydrology/water regulation, purification and quality /soil moisture
  • [6] Reduction in native biodiversity
  • [1] Soil or sediment modification: modification of structure
[2] Environmental Species - Population
  • [2] Reduces/inhibits the growth of other species
[2] Socio-Economic
  • [2] Human health
Management information
Control of Agave americana is mainly achieved by using a combination of physical and chemical management techniques. Small plants are usually removed manually, while larger plants can be treated manually and/or with herbicide. Effective chemical treatments include cutting down leaves close to the ground and painting the stump immediately with herbicide and injection of herbicide. Follow up treatment may be necessary, especially for larger plants (Bickerton 2006; Ecoscape (Australia) Pty Ltd 2005; Weedbusters 2010).
Bibliography
117 references found for Agave americana

Management information
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Contact
The following 1 contacts offer information an advice on Agave americana
Pugnaire,
Francisco I.
Organization:
Estacion Experimental de Zonas Aridas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas
Address:
Ctra. Sacramento s/n 04120 La Ca�ada, Almeria, Spain
Phone:
+34 950281045 ext. 305
Fax:
+34 950277100
Agave americana
American-aloe, wild century-plant, century plant, American agave, American century plant, maguey americano, Amerikanische agave, agave, garingboom, pite, spreading century-plant, maguey, American aloe, yucca, agave d'Amérique, Hundert-jährige agave, pita común
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Recommended citation
(2024). Agave americana. IUCN Environmental Impact Classification for Alien Taxa (EICAT).