Agave × arizonica

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Monocots
Ordo: Asparagales

Familia: Asparagaceae
Subfamilia: Agavoideae
Genus: Agave
Subgenus: A. subg. Littaea
Species: Agave × arizonica
Name

Agave × arizonica Gentry & J.H.Weber, Cact. Succ. J. (Los Angeles) 42: 223. 1970.

Formula hybridae: Agave chrysantha Peebles × Agave toumeyana Trel. ex Standl.

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental: Northern America
Regional: Southwestern USA
Arizona (New River Mts.).

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References

Gentry, H.S. 1970. Two New Agaves from Arizona. Cactus and Succulent Journal (Los Angeles) 42: 223–228. Google Books Reference page.

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2019. Agave × arizonica in World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2019 Jan. 06. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2019. Agave × arizonica. Published online. Accessed: Jan. 06 2019.
The Plant List 2013. Agave × arizonica in The Plant List Version 1.1. Published online. Accessed: 2019 Jan. 06.
Tropicos.org 2019. Agave × arizonica. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 06 Jan. 2019.
USDA, ARS, Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agave × arizonica in the Germplasm Resources Information Network (GRIN), U.S. Department of Agriculture Agricultural Research Service. Accessed: 08-Apr-12.

Agave × arizonica is a rare plant, endemic to Arizona.[1] It is a hybrid between two species of Agave in the family Asparagaceae, A. chrysantha and A. toumeyana var. bella.[2] It was discovered in the 1960s near a summit of the New River Mountains, near the Maricopa-Yavapai county line north of Phoenix, Arizona.[3][4][5]

Agave × arizonica is a small plant about 30 cm high and 40 cm broad. Although similar to Agave utahensis, it has distinct differences in suckering more sparingly, in not forming a large dense clump, having leaves with a distinct dark brown margin and also more cylindrical flowers. Its flowers are yellow, with 10-20 per cluster, each up to 3.5 cm (1.4 in) long.[6][7]
Flowers on the 11 foot tall flowering shaft of Agave x arizonica, flowers of a Palo brea (Parkinsonia praecox) tree in background.
References

Hodgson, W. C. 1999. Vascular plants of Arizona: Agavaceae. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 32: 1–21.
"Agave × arizonica", World Checklist of Selected Plant Families, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, retrieved 2012-12-11
Tropicos
Gentry, Howard Scott. & Weber, John Henry. Cactus and Succulent Journal 42: 223, f. 1–2. 1970.
Agaves of Continental North America, Howard Scott Gentry, Tucson, University of Arizona Press, 1982 ISBN 0-8165-0775-9
Flora of North America v 26.
Gentry, H. S. 1982. Agaves of Continental North America. Tucson.