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Agave vivipara - L

Common Name Mescal Casero
Family Asparagaceae
USDA hardiness 10-12
Known Hazards None Known
Habitats Subtropical to tropical. semi-arid to humid
Range Mesoamerica. Caribbean - Aruba; Netherlands Antilles.
Edibility Rating    (3 of 5)
Other Uses    (3 of 5)
Weed Potential Yes
Medicinal Rating    (0 of 5)
Care (info)
Tender Well drained soil Moist Soil Full sun
Agave vivipara Mescal Casero


edibleplants.org
Agave vivipara Mescal Casero
Forest & Kim Starr wikimedia.org

 

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Summary

Sometimes misspelt as Agave vivipera


Physical Characteristics

 icon of manicon of flower
Agave vivipara is an evergreen Perennial growing to 1 m (3ft 3in) by 1 m (3ft 3in) at a medium rate.
See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 10.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils, prefers well-drained soil and can grow in nutritionally poor soil. Suitable pH: mildly acid, neutral and basic (mildly alkaline) soils. It cannot grow in the shade. It prefers dry or moist soil and can tolerate drought.

UK Hardiness Map US Hardiness Map

Synonyms

Agave vivipera (incorrect). Many.

Habitats

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Flowers  Fruit  Leaves  Sap  Stem
Edible Uses:

Many, if not all, of the reports on the uses of this species actually refer to A. Angustifolia. To date we have not found any reports that definitely refer to this species. Since A. Angustifolia is very similar, it is quite possible that both species have similar uses[K ]. Below are the uses listed for A. Angustifolia:- Flower buds and flowers[662 ]. Young flower peduncles[662 ]. Stems[662 ]. Leaf bases[662 ]. Fruit[662 ]. The flowering stems are cooked and their juice extracted, fermented, and distilled into alcoholic beverages[662 ]. The sap can be concentrated into a sweet syrup known as 'Agave Nectar' or 'Agave Syrup'[360 ].

References   More on Edible Uses

Medicinal Uses

Plants For A Future can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Dysentery

Many, if not all, of the reports on the uses of this species actually refer to A. Angustifolia. To date we have not found any reports that definitely refer to this species. Since A. Angustifolia is very similar, it is quite possible that both species have similar uses[K]. Below are the uses listed for A. Angustifolia:- The juice of the cooked leaves and stems, and a root infusion, are taken internally or used as poultices for both internal and external swelling, as well as for bruises, liver and kidney diseases, arthritis, and dysentery[662]. The roots are diaphoretic and diuretic[360].

References   More on Medicinal Uses

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Other Uses

Agroforestry Uses: Many, if not all, of the reports on the uses of this species actually refer to A. Angustifolia. To date we have not found any reports that definitely refer to this species. Since A. Angustifolia is very similar, it is quite possible that both species have similar uses[K ]. Below are the uses listed for A. Angustifolia:- Often planted in hedges[331 ]. Other Uses: A fibre from the leaves is used for making rope[662 ]. The leaves are used for thatching[662 ]. The spines on the leaves are used as nails or needles[662 ]. The flowering stem can be used as posts, rafters, and fences[662 ]. The root contains saponins and can be used as a soap substitute[331 ]. The sticky sap of the leaves is added to whitewash to make it adhere to walls[331 ]. The dried plant is burnt for fuel[662 ]. Carbon Farming - Industrial Crop: fiber. Agroforestry Services: living fence.

Special Uses

Carbon Farming

References   More on Other Uses

Cultivation details

Agroforestry Services: Living fence  Industrial Crop: Fiber  Management: Standard  Regional Crop

Agave vivipara is a stemless, succulent plant. Requires a sunny position[423]. Requires a well-drained soil[423]. Succeeds in poor soils[423]. Established plants are very drought resistant[423]. A monocarpic species - the plant lives for a number of years without flowering but dies once it does flower. However, it normally produces plenty of suckers during its life and these continue growing, taking about 10 - 15 years in a warm climate, considerably longer in colder ones, before flowering[11]. Climate: subtropical to tropical. Humidity: semi-arid to humid. Carbon Farming - Cultivation: regional crop. Management: standard.

Carbon Farming

  • Agroforestry Services: Living fence  Simply managed rows of shrubs and trees.
  • Industrial Crop: Fiber  Clothing, rugs, sheets, blankets etc. Currently, almost none of our fiber are produced from perennial crops but could be!
  • Management: Standard  Plants grow to their standard height. Harvest fruit, seeds, or other products. Non-Destructive management systems.
  • Regional Crop  These crops have been domesticated and cultivated regionally but have not been adopted elsewhere and are typically not traded globally, Examples in this broad category include perennial cottons and many nuts and staple fruits.

References   Carbon Farming Information and Carbon Sequestration Information

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Propagation

Seed - surface sow in a container in a light position. The seed usually germinates in 1 - 3 months at 20°c[133 ]. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots of well-drained soil when they are large enough to handle and grow them on in a sunny position until they are at least 20cm tall. Division of suckers. Bulbils.

Other Names

If available other names are mentioned here

Caribbean agave, century plant, maguey, narrow-leaved century plant

Native Plant Search

Search over 900 plants ideal for food forests and permaculture gardens. Filter to search native plants to your area. The plants selected are the plants in our book 'Plants For Your Food Forest: 500 Plants for Temperate Food Forests and Permaculture Gardens, as well as plants chosen for our forthcoming related books for Tropical/Hot Wet Climates and Mediterranean/Hot Dry Climates. Native Plant Search

Found In

Countries where the plant has been found are listed here if the information is available

Australia, US, South America.

Weed Potential

Right plant wrong place. We are currently updating this section. Please note that a plant may be invasive in one area but may not in your area so it’s worth checking.

An environmental weed and should be controlled in sensitive bushland and conservation areas.

Conservation Status

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status : This taxon has not yet been assessed

Related Plants
Latin NameCommon NameHabitHeightHardinessGrowthSoilShadeMoistureEdibleMedicinalOther
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Agave cantala agaveAgavePerennial2.0 9-12 FLMHNDM204
Agave fourcroydesHenequenPerennial1.8 10-12 MLMHNDM013
Agave lechuguillaIxtle, ChihuahuaPerennial0.6 10-12 MLMHNDM124
Agave murpheyiHohokam Agave, Murphey agavePerennial1.0 8-12 SLMHNDM204
Agave parryiCentury Plant, Parry's agave, MescalPerennial0.5 9-11 SLMNDM312
Agave salmianaPulque Agave, Giant AgavePerennial2.0 9-11 MLMHNDM302
Agave sisalanaSisalPerennial2.0 9-11 FLMHSNDM224
Agave tequilanaBlue Agave, Mescal, Tequila.Perennial2.0 10-12 MLMHND403
Agave utahensis discretaCentury PlantPerennial4.0 8-11  LMNDM312
Agave utahensis eborispinaCentury PlantPerennial4.0 8-11  LMNDM312

Growth: S = slow M = medium F = fast. Soil: L = light (sandy) M = medium H = heavy (clay). pH: A = acid N = neutral B = basic (alkaline). Shade: F = full shade S = semi-shade N = no shade. Moisture: D = dry M = Moist We = wet Wa = water.

 

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Botanical References

Links / References

For a list of references used on this page please go here
A special thanks to Ken Fern for some of the information used on this page.

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