Lechuguilla (Agave lechuguilla)
N omb res comu n es: Maguey (Español) / Tzuta (Otomí)
Si n ón i mos: Agave multilineata, Agave poselgeri, Agave lophantha var. poselgeri, Agave lophantha var. tamaulipasana
¿Tienes alguna duda, sugerencia o corrección acerca de este taxón? Envíanosla y con gusto la
atenderemos.
Foto: (c) Gary Nored, algunos derechos reservados (CC BY-NC)
Ver todas las fotos etiquetadas con Agave lechuguilla en Banco de Imagénes »
Descripción de EOL Ver en EOL (inglés) →
Range description 1,2
This species is distributed from south New Mexico to central Mexico, throughout the Chihuahuan
Desert in Trans-Pecos Texas, southern New Mexico, and northern Mexico south to Hidalgo.
Description 3
More info for the terms: caudex, dehiscent, perfect
This description provides characteristics that may be relevant to fire ecology, and is not meant for
identification. Keys for identification are available (e.g. [44,50,57,74]).
Ab ovegrou n d growth : Lechuguilla is a long-lived, drought-tolerant perennial. Dense patches of
lechuguilla are common due to clonal growth [31,44,74]. A study of 11 lechuguilla populations along a
latitudinal gradient from northern to southern Mexico revealed that southern plants grow larger than
northern plants [65].
A basal rosette of 20 to 50 upright, thick, fleshy leaves is borne from lechuguilla's woody caudex. The
rosette is typically 8 to 24 inches (20-60 cm) tall. Tapered leaves measure 8 to 20 inches (20-50 cm) long
by 0.4 to 2 inches (1-4 cm) wide. A 0.7- to 2-inch (18-40 mm) spine occurs at the leaf tip. Leaf margins are
lined with downward pointing spines that are 0.1 to 0.4 inch (3-10 mm) long [31,44,45,50,54,63,67].
Leaves may live to be 12 to 15 years old [28] and have been used to age plants [23].
Perfect flowers are produced on a spike-like panicle. The flower stalk bearing this panicle may be 3 to
10 feet (1-4 m) tall [28,29,44,50,57,67,74]. Flower stalks grow rapidly. An 8 inch (20 cm) daily height
increase is possible. A height of 8.5 feet (2.6 m) can be reached in 3 to 4 weeks [23]. Flower production
occurs once the plant is mature, at typically 10 to 20 years old. After flowering, lechuguilla dies and is
replaced by one of many clones [23,50,67]. When northern and southern populations were compared in
Mexico, fewer flowers were produced by northern plants [65].
Many dehiscent capsules containing several hundred seeds are produced along the spike-like panicle.
Capsules are 0.8 to 1 inch (20-25 mm) long, and seed diameter is 3 to 4.5 mm [21,44,50]. Seeds appear
smooth and black when fertile and white and dull when infertile [28].
Bel owgrou n d growth : Lechuguilla is shallowly rooted. The average depth of 45 below ground
structures from 8 plants in Coahuila, Mexico, was 4 inches (10 cm). For average-size plants,
approximately 4% of the dry biomass was underground [54]. The lateral underground structures of
lechuguilla plants in Big Bend National Park, Texas, were 2 to 3 times the width of the canopy. Root to
shoot ratios ranged from 0.09 to 0.21 and averaged 0.14 [77].
Ad ap tati on s for d rou gh t tol eran ce: Many morphological and physiological adaptations allow
lechuguilla to persist in arid habitats. Leaf cuticles resist transpiration, and both leaves and roots have
large amounts of mucilage, saponin, and salts that maintain water in solution [50]. In a review, Nobel
[52] reports that agaves rapidly initiate root production during rainfall events. Leaf structure and
arrangement allow lechuguilla to capture precipitation and deposit it at the shaded base of the plant
where evaporation potential is reduced [28].
Type information 4
Isosyn typ e for Agave lecheguilla Torr. in Emory
Catal og N u mb er: US 125459
Col l ecti on : Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany
Veri fi cati on Degree: Original publication and alleged type specimen examined
Prep arati on : Pressed specimen
Col l ector(s): C. Wright
Year Col l ected : 1849
Local i ty: Texas, United States, North America
Chihuahuan desert habitat 5,6
This taxon is found in the Chihuahuan Desert, which is one of the most biologically diverse arid regions
on Earth. This ecoregion extends from within the United States south into Mexico. This desert is
sheltered from the influence of other arid regions such as the Sonoran Desert by the large mountain
ranges of the Sierra Madres. This isolation has allowed the evolution of many endemic species; most
notable is the high number of endemic plants; in fact, there are a total of 653 vertebrate taxa recorded
in the Chihuahuan Desert. Moreover, this ecoregion also sustains some of the last extant populations
of Mexican Prairie Dog, wild American Bison and Pronghorn Antelope.
The dominant plant species throughout the Chihuahuan Desert is Creosote Bush (Larrea tridentata).
Depending on diverse factors such as type of soil, altitude, and degree of slope, L. tridentata can occur
in association with other species. More generally, an association between L. tridentata, American
Tarbush (Flourensia cernua) and Viscid Acacia (Acacia neovernicosa) dominates the northernmost
portion of the Chihuahuan Desert. The meridional portion is abundant in Yucca and Opuntia, and the
southernmost portion is inhabited by Mexican Fire-barrel Cactus (Ferocactus pilosus) and Mojave
Mound Cactus (Echinocereus polyacanthus). Herbaceous elements such as Gypsum Grama
(Chondrosum ramosa), Blue Grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and Hairy Grama (Chondrosum hirsuta), among
others, become dominant near the Sierra Madre Occidental. In western Coahuila State, Lecheguilla
Agave (Agave lechuguilla), Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), Purple Prickly-pear (Opuntia
macrocentra) and Rainbow Cactus (Echinocereus pectinatus) are the dominant vascular plants.
Because of its recent origin, few warm-blooded vertebrates are restricted to the Chihuahuan Desert
scrub. However, the Chihuahuan Desert supports a large number of wide-ranging mammals, such as
the Pronghorn Antelope (Antilocapra americana), Robust Cottontail (Sylvilagus robustus EN); Mule Deer
(Odocoileus hemionus), Grey Fox (Unocyon cineroargentinus), Jaguar (Panthera onca), Collared Peccary
or Javelina (Pecari tajacu ), Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus auduboni ), Black-tailed Jackrabbit (Lepus
californicus), Kangaroo Rats (Dipodomys sp.), pocket mice (Perognathus spp.), Woodrats (Neotoma spp.)
and Deer Mice (Peromyscus spp). With only 24 individuals recorded in the state of Chihuahua
Antilocapra americana is one of the most highly endangered taxa that inhabits this desert. The
ecoregion also contains a small wild population of the highly endangered American Bison (Bison bison )
and scattered populations of the highly endangered Mexican Prairie Dog (Cynomys mexicanus), as well
as the Black-tailed Prairie Dog (Cynomys ludovicianus).
The Chihuahuan Desert herpetofauna typifies this ecoregion.Several lizard species are centered in the
Chihuahuan Desert, and include the Texas Horned Lizard (Phrynosoma cornutum); Texas Banded Gecko
(Coleonyx brevis), often found under rocks in limestone foothills; Reticulate Gecko (C. reticulatus);
Greater Earless Lizard (Cophosaurus texanus); several species of spiny lizards (Scelopoprus spp.); and
the Western Marbled Whiptail (Cnemidophorus tigris marmoratus). Two other whiptails, the New
Mexico Whiptail (C. neomexicanus) and the Common Checkered Whiptail (C. tesselatus) occur as allfemale parthenogenic clone populations in select disturbed habitats.
Representative snakes include the Trans-Pecos Rat Snake (Bogertophis subocularis), Texas Blackhead
Snake (Tantilla atriceps), and Sr (Masticophis taeniatus) and Neotropical Whipsnake (M. flagellum
lineatus). Endemic turtles include the Bolsón Tortoise (Gopherus flavomarginatus), Coahuilan Box Turtle
(Terrapene coahuila) and several species of softshell turtles. Some reptiles and amphibians restricted
to the Madrean sky island habitats include the Ridgenose Rattlesnake (Crotalus willardi ), Twin-spotted
Rattlesnake (C. pricei ), Northern Cat-eyed Snake (Leptodeira septentrionalis), Yarrow’s Spiny Lizard
(Sceloporus jarrovii ), and Canyon Spotted Whiptail (Cnemidophorus burti ).
There are thirty anuran species occurring in the Chihuahuan Desert: Chiricahua Leopard Frog (Rana
chircahuaensis); Red Spotted Toad (Anaxyrus punctatus); American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus);
Canyon Treefrog (Hyla arenicolor); Northern Cricket Frog (Acris crepitans); Rio Grande Chirping Frog
(Eleutherodactylus cystignathoides); Cliff Chirping Frog (Eleutherodactylus marnockii ); Spotted Chirping
Frog (Eleutherodactylus guttilatus); Tarahumara Barking Frog (Craugastor tarahumaraensis); Mexican
Treefrog (Smilisca baudinii ); Madrean Treefrog (Hyla eximia); Montezuma Leopard Frog (Lithobates
montezumae); Brown's Leopard Frog (Lithobates brownorum); Yavapai Leopard Frog (Lithobates
yavapaiensis); Western Barking Frog (Craugastor augusti ); Mexican Cascade Frog (Lithobates
pustulosus); Lowland Burrowing Frog (Smilisca fodiens); New Mexico Spadefoot (Spea multiplicata);
Plains Spadefoot (Spea bombifrons); Pine Toad (Incilius occidentalis); Woodhouse's Toad (Anaxyrus
woodhousii ); Couch's Spadefoot Toad (Scaphiopus couchii ); Plateau Toad (Anaxyrus compactilis); Texas
Toad (Anaxyrus speciosus); Dwarf Toad (Incilius canaliferus); Great Plains Narrowmouth Toad
(Gastrophryne olivacea); Great Plains Toad (Anaxyrus cognatus); Eastern Green Toad (Anaxyrus debilis);
Gulf Coast Toad (Incilius valliceps); and Longfoot Chirping Toad (Eleutherodactylus longipes VU). The
sole salamander occurring in the Chihuahuan Desert is the Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum).
Common bird species include the Greater Roadrunner (Geococcyx californianus), Burrowing Owl
(Athene cunicularia), Merlin (Falco columbarius), Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), and the rare
Zone-tailed Hawk (Buteo albonotatus). Geococcyx californianus), Curve-billed Thrasher (Toxostoma
curvirostra), Scaled Quail (Callipepla squamata), Scott’s Oriole (Icterus parisorum), Black-throated
Sparrow (Amphispiza bilineata), Phainopepla (Phainopepla nitens), Worthen’s Sparrow (Spizella
wortheni), and Cactus Wren (Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus). In addition, numerous raptors inhabit
the Chihuahuan Desert and include the Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) and the Elf Owl
(Micrathene whitneyi).
Fire management considerations 3
More info for the terms: fire frequency, frequency
As indicated in the Fire Ecology section, invasion of Lehmann lovegrass into lechuguilla habitats could
increase the fire frequency beyond presettlement frequencies and beyond the range to which
Chihuahuan Desert species are adapted.
Information regarding the effect of fire on lechuguilla is sparse. Additional studies of fire in lechuguilla
habitats are needed before recommendation for or against fire in these habitats is warranted.
Phenology 3
More info on this topic.
Lechuguilla flowers are common from May to June throughout its range [23,44]. However, flower
production may occur outside of these months. Populations studied in 1996 in northern Mexico
flowered in early September, later than southern populations, which flowered in early July [65].
Barcode data: agave lecheguilla 7
The following is a representative barcode sequence, the centroid of all available sequences for this
species.
Iucn red list assessment 1,2
R ed Li st Category
LC
Least Concern
R ed Li st Cri teri a
Versi on
3.1
Year Assessed
2013
Assessor/s
Thacker, H.
R evi ewer/s
Hilton-Taylor, C.
Con tri b u tor/s
Ju sti fi cati on
Agave lechuguilla has been listed as Least Concern due to its wide range across Mexico and southern
US states of New Mexico and Texas. It is restricted to aspecializedhabitat type, but there are no major
threats to this habitat at present.
National nature serve conservation status 8
United States
R ou n d ed N ati on al Statu s R an k : NNR - Unranked
Population 1,2
Pop u l ati on
The population size is not known.
Pop u l ati on Tren d
Stable
Threats 1,2
M aj or Th reats
This species might be threatened by deer and javelinas (peccaries) who eat it, however, it is poisonous
to cattle.
Conservation actions 1,2
Con servati on Acti on s
There are no known conservation measures for this species, however, this species has been previously
assessed as "G5 - Secure", which is equivalent to the IUCN Red List rating of Least Concern (NatureServe
2009).
Economic uses 8
Uses : FIBER, INDUSTRIAL/CHEMICAL USE/PRODUCT
Commen ts : The main use of this species is in the fabrication of brushes and scrubbers.
Importance to livestock and wildlife 3
More info for the terms: association, cactus, cover, density, frequency, presence, succession
Lechuguilla provides important habitat and food to a diversity of Chihuahuan Desert mammals, reptiles,
and birds but is poisonous to domestic livestock.
Domesti c l i vestock: Lechuguilla causes "goat fever, lechuguilla fever, or swell head" in domestic
goats, sheep, and cattle when consumed [45,74]. Saponin is the toxic agent in lechuguilla that is
activated by an unidentified photodynamic agent [28,57]. Domestic sheep and goats are poisoned more
frequently than cattle. However, most domestic livestock species avoid lechuguilla unless drought
conditions are severe and/or other foods are unavailable [28,67].
Lechuguilla fever is most common in the spring during periods of drought and/or when range condition
is low. Domestic goats and sheep with the fever are lethargic, do not keep up with the herd, and
become uninterested in food and water. Affected animals may be jaundiced, excrete yellow liquid from
the eyes and nostrils, and have swelling mucous membranes. Animals fed as little as 1% of their body
weight in lechuguilla have died [45,67].
A study of non-Angora goat diets from fecal analysis revealed that the amount of lechuguilla in goat
diets was a low of 2% in the fall, was 3% in the spring and summer, and was a high of 4% in the winter.
The pasture had poor forage productivity. Poisoning of these goats was not mentioned [48].
M u l e d eer: Feeding observations and fecal analyses indicate that lechuguilla is important in diets of
Chihuahuan Desert mule deer [37,40,41]. Mule deer fed on young lechuguilla flower stalks and small 2
to 5 inch (5-10 cm) rosettes throughout the winter [35]. Mule deer feces analyzed from Big Bend
National Park, Texas, had the highest frequency of lechuguilla, 9%, in the summer of 1980. These
findings differed from other reports of moderate lechuguilla use year round. The researchers noted
that the other studies were based on observations or rumen analysis [40].
In Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, lechuguilla was more important to mule deer following
"poor growing" seasons. Feeding was observed and stomach contents were analyzed from 1967 to 1971.
Mule deer consumed flower stalks and fruit, and most lechuguilla feeding occurred from March
through April, although some feeding occurred in the winter months. During a nongrowing season that
followed a "good growing" season, mule deer fed on lechuguilla in 4 of 95 observations. Following a
"poor growing" season, 31 of 186 feeding observations were on lechuguilla. The frequency of
lechuguilla in 16 deer stomachs taken after a poor growing season was 69% [36].
Bi gh orn sh eep : Lechuguilla is common in bighorn sheep habitats in the Trans-Pecos area of western
Texas [14].
Col l ared p eccari es: Collared peccaries feed heavily on lechuguilla. The tender inner core of leaves,
the basal portions of outer leaves, and the roots are consumed [4]. The inner leaf core is an important
water source during drought conditions [12].
In a heavily browsed area of Big Bend National Park, 24.4% of lechuguilla plants were browsed. Based
on scat analysis, lechuguilla made up 11% to 41% of collared peccary diets from September through
June and 3% to 5% in July and August when consumption of prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) fruits was
greatest [4]. Stomach contents of 2 collared peccaries from the Trans-Pecos region of Texas were more
than 50% lechuguilla [33].
Bl ack b ears: In 27 black bear scats left in the late summer (July-September) in Big Bend National Park,
Texas, the frequency of agave (Agave spp.) was 7%. Frequency was zero in early summer scats [30].
Oth er smal l mammal s: Lechuguilla is important in the habitats of several small mammals and is an
important food for pocket gophers. In the Guadalupe Mountains National Park, Texas, Botta's pocket
gopher habitats contained lechuguilla, and lechuguilla roots were a preferred food item [27]. Southern
pocket gophers are thought to affect lechuguilla density in Carlsbad Caverns National Park by feeding
on the inner plant core [35].
In Culberson County, Texas, rock squirrels utilize both pinyon-juniper (Pinus-Juniperus spp.) and
highlands vegetation in which lechuguilla is common [13]. The smooth-leaf sotol-lechuguilla vegetation
association supports large populations of cactus mice and Nelson's pocket mice in the Big Bend region
of Brewster County, Texas. In the creosote bush-lechuguilla association the cactus mouse is the most
typical mammal. The white-ankled mouse "typifies" the smooth-leaf sotol-juniper-lechuguilla community
[15]. In the lechuguilla-creosote bush-cactus vegetation type in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend
National Park, spotted ground squirrels, Botta's pocket gophers, Merriam's kangaroo rats, and blacktailed jackrabbits are characteristic [76]. In Coahuila, Mexico, yellow-faced pocket gopher burrows were
found under lechuguilla [62]. For additional information on mammal populations associated with desert
vegetation that includes lechuguilla, see [10].
Bi rd s: Thirteen breeding bird species utilized lechuguilla-creosote bush-cactus habitats for nesting in
the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park. Common nesters included Say's phoebes, verdins,
mocking birds, black-tailed gnatcatchers, house finches, ash-throated flycatchers, and cactus wrens [76].
For additional information on bird populations associated with desert vegetation that includes
lechuguilla, see [10].
R ep ti l es: Many lizards and snakes utilize habitats where lechuguilla is important. Gray-checkered
whiptails occupy the upper San Antonio Canyon of Trans-Pecos, Texas [75], and canyon lizards are
found in Big Bend National Park, Texas [19]. In both areas, lechuguilla is important. The lechuguillacreosote bush-cactus vegetation in the Chisos Mountains of Big Bend National Park supports
populations of canyon lizards, round-tailed horned lizards, tiger whiptails, Couch's spadefoot,
coachwhips, western patch-nosed snakes, and western diamond-backed rattlesnakes [76].
Greater earless lizards, round-tailed horned lizards, and common checkered whiptails were significantly
(p-value not reported) associated with succulent desert vegetation in Guadalupe Mountains National
Park. The researcher indicated that these reptiles may be valuable vegetation type indicators, as they
typically remain in the area even when some dominant plants disappear in early secondary succession.
For a description of the succulent desert vegetation, see Habitat Types and Plant Communities [26].
Pal atab i l i ty/n u tri ti on al val u e: The average concentration of elements in leaf tissue taken from the
center of mature leaves from plants growing in Coahuila, Mexico is provided below [53]:
N K Ca Mg Na P Mn Cu Zn Fe B
(%)
(ppm)
1.14 1.27 6.11 0.40 45 1,220 14 6.9 36 77 18
Lechuguilla leaves from plants in New Mexico averaged 30.7% crude fiber, 7% ash, and 3.6% protein.
Not all protein was digestible [6].
Cover val u e: The presence of lechuguilla in the habitats of many mammals, birds, and reptiles
suggests that it provides useful cover. For additional information on the importance of lechuguilla in
wildlife habitats, see the species group of interest within Importance to livestock and wildlife.
Comments 10,9
Agave lechuguilla is the principal source of “istle” or “ixtle,” a hard fiber used for rope and known by the
trade name “Tampico fibre.” The plant is poisonous to cattle, goats, and sheep. This species is the
dominant agave on the Chihuahuan Desert. It hybridizes with A. havardiana, A. neomexicana, A.
gracilipes, and A. × glomeruliflora.
Taxonomy 3
The scientific name of lechuguilla is Agave lechuguilla Torr. (Agavaceae) [34,44,50,57].
When lechuguilla and thorncrest century plant (A. univittata) habitats overlap,
there are intermediate forms considered hybrids [28].
References
1. Thacker, H. 2013. Agave lechuguilla. In: IUCN 2014 . IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version
2014.1 . <www.iucnredlist.org>
2. © International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources, some rights reserved
3. Gucker, Corey L. 2006. Agave lechuguilla. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences
Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/ (2006, May 23). Available:
http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/
4. © Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Department of Botany, some
rights reserved
5. C. Michael Hogan & World Wildlife Fund. 2013."Chihuahuan Desert". Encyclopedia of Earth,
National Council for Science and the Environment, Washington DC ed.Mark McGinley.
6. © C. Michael Hogan & World Wildlife Fund, some rights reserved
7. © Barcode of Life Data Systems, some rights reserved
8. © NatureServe, some rights reserved
9. Flora of North America Vol. 26: 444, 448, 449, 450, 458 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden.
Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
10. © Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA, some rights
reserved