• The agave plant prefers arid-tropical regions.Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of Zest-pk
  
  

Classification

• The agave plant is in the scientific kingdom Plantae, the family Agavacae and the genus Agave L.
  
  

Types

• Three major agave plant varieties exist. Agave americana is native to tropical states from California to Florida. Agave attenuata is the most commonly used for gardens because its leaves lack sharp needles. Agave tequilana, or blue agave, is native to Mexico and is used to make tequila.
  
  

Identification

• Most varieties consist of a rosette of tightly packed leaves, which contain a fibrous vascular system and stored watery sap. The long, thick leaves end in sharp points. Agave plants flower through a large spike that is several times taller than the rest of the plant.
  
  

Relations

• The agave plant is a succulent, meaning that it retains water for survival in arid climates. Although it is often mistaken for a cactus, agave is actually related to the yucca, lilly and amaryllis families.
  
  

Survival Uses

• You can drink the water stored in the agave plant's flower stalk, and the flowers are edible if boiled. You can use the leaf fibers to make rope, and the sap of some species is an effective soap. Some agave juice can cause skin irritations in a few people.