Continued from page 6 . South Texas , and Southern Arizona . It was introduced into the Trans Pecos and is distinguished from the five native species as it has larger , lighter-colored green to a moderate gray bluish leaves and a taller inflorescence , which can reach 15 to 24 feet . agaves are monocots in the Asparagaceae , Agavoideae subfamily classified since 2009 . It is a plant that is known to produce a flowering stalk only once , although it can produce offsets or pups from underground rhizomes . But a new stalk after the original stalk is spent is a rarity . agaves have many uses , and they have provided humans with food and beverages for at least 9,000 years . Additionally , agaves have been and are still used for fibers ( making ropes and clothes ), like henequén from a Central American agave . Beverages include pulque , tequila and mescal . Also , their carbohydrates are used for making agave honey . As food , the roasted mature heads and flowers are very sweet and nutritious . Additionally , an unfermented sweet juice , known as aquamiel , can be extracted from the center of an agave , but only when the growing inflorescence is separated . agaves are also used as ornamental plants all over the world .
The word “ agave ” comes from the Latin word agave and Greek word aqauē , name of the mother of Pentheus , and from agaous meaning noble . Other sources relate in Greek mythology that “ agave ” was the eldest daughter of Cadmus , the King and founder of the city of Thebes , Greece , and the Goddess Harmonia . The term agave was probably adopted by botanists because of the plants ’ single , massive inflorescence that is the largest among any plant .
I visited the agave plant 5.6 miles west of Alpine on September 7th , 8th and again on the 14th . The new panicle was developing with flowers normal in size . The new panicle came off the original stalk and was surrounded by green , vibrant leaves in opposition to the original plant ’ s dying leaves . These undying leaves were the same size as the original leaves as not to be confused with a pup or offset from an underground rhizome . The vibrant leaves were attached to or around the original stalk . On September 8th , with gloves ready to avoid the leaves ’ prickles , I determined that the new panicle was connected to the mother stalk by a short ( 3 to 4 inch ) horizonal portion ; then the panicle turned vertical . It appeared healthy and developing to open its flowers just like the original mother stalk .
On my September 14th visit , I found the panicle had broken off the original stalk . It was attached six days earlier . The panicle was not wilting yet , suggesting it must have broken off recently . I collected it and took it to Dr . Powell in the Herbarium . My thinking was the panicle got heavy with upcoming flowering and the wind took it down . Dr . Powell was interested in the 48-inch-long panicle and added some flowers from it along with my photographs to the Herbarium collections .
After examining my submissions , Dr . Powell suggested I get in touch with Wendy Hodgson , an agave expert at the Desert Botanic Garden in Phoenix , Arizona . Wendy Hodgson is the Herbarium Curator Emerita and Senior Research Botanist at the Desert Botanic Garden . I emailed her , attaching two pictures showing the agave and new panicle . She responded that she had seen this phenomenon before and that agaves “ want to spread their pollen and get fertilized any way they can .” Ms . Hodgson also pointed out that little flower stalks can develop from the original flower
10 Big Bend Real Estate Guide • February 2023