Agave utahensis discreta Century plant (Agavaceae) Evergreen perennial

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Agave utahensis discreta
Century plant
Evergreen perennial
(1 Page of 5)

The Agave utahensis discreta plant species is found in Southwestern N. America - found in the Grand Canyon. It is a member of the Agavaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Century plant.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Agave utahensis discreta
Common Name:  Century plant
Family:  Agavaceae
Author:  Engelm.

Known Hazards:  The plants have a very sharp and tough spine at the tip of each leaf. They need to be carefully sited in the garden.

Mature Height:  4   Mature Width:  2

Habitat:  Dry stony limestone slopes, 1000 - 1500 metres[71].

Edible Uses: The heart of the plant is very rich in saccharine matter and can be eaten when baked[2, 46, 61, 105, 177]. Sweet and delicious, but rather fibrous[213]. It is partly below ground. Can be dried for future use or soaked in water to produce a flavourful beverage[183]. Seed - ground into a flour[85, 161]. Flower stalk - roasted[183]. Root - cooked[183]. Sap from the cut flowering stems is used as a syrup[177]. The sap can also be tapped by boring a hole into the middle of the plant at the base of the flowering stem[213]. It can be fermented into 'Mescal', a very potent alcoholic drink[213].

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Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
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