Plant · GBIF taxon 2766905
Parry's Agave
Agave parryiAlso known as Mescal Agave, Parry Agave
Parry's agave forms symmetrical, globe-like rosettes of tightly overlapping grey-green leaves, each tipped with a dark, needle-sharp terminal spine. After storing nutrients in arid soils for up to three decades, a single mature plant sends up a towering flower stalk laden with bright yellow blossoms. Once the energy-intensive bloom concludes, the main rosette dies, leaving behind a circle of genetically identical offset clones called pups.
SucculentArid-AdaptedFlowering
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & prey
- Autotrophic (Photosynthetic)
Predators
- Herbivorous Insects
- Packrats
- Javelinas
ThreatsHabitat degradation, extreme drought, illegal collection
HabitatsDesert scrub, oak-juniper woodlands, Madrean sky islands
Life span10–30 years (monocarpic)
Size / weightNot available
Classification
- OrderAsparagales
- FamilyAsparagaceae
- GenusAgave
- SpeciesAgave parryi
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Sharp leaf spines cause painful punctures, and raw sap causes skin irritation; handle with care.
- Why it is dangerous
- Calcium oxalate crystals and saponins in sap cause contact dermatitis, while sharp spines cause painful puncture wounds.
- How to recognize a risky encounter
- Look for tight, spherical rosettes of rigid, glaucous grey leaves tipped with dark brown spines.
- What to do
- Avoid touching cut leaves or sap, wear protective gloves when working near rosettes, and keep clear of spine tips.
Responsible observation
- Give It Space: Keep a respectful distance from sharp leaf spines along trails or garden paths.
- Look for Pups: Search around the base of mature rosettes for growing vegetative offshoots.
- Watch Flower Stalks: Observe tall blooming stalks in summer for visiting bats, bees, and hummingbirds.
Pollinator (c) Juan Cruzado Cortés, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Juan Cruzado Cortés · cc-by-sa
Frequent Companion (c) CK2AZ, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by CK2AZ · cc-by
Close Relative "Closeup of Century Plant (Agave)" by Coconino NF Photography is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. To view a copy of this license, visit https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/. · cc-by-sa
Close Relative (c) J Brew, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by J Brew · cc-by-sa
Keep collecting in Fauna
Found in Collections
Ecosystem chain Pro
Desert Sands
Parry's Agave is found in this collection. Identify it in Fauna to fill this slot and continue your progress.
Unlock to track progress
Help improve the field guideSomething wrong?
Checking your Fauna account…Report a name, category, or profile issue for review.