Agave deserti Engelm.
Desert agave, mescal
This species is native to southern California and Mexico.
Plants: Agave deserti usually grows in tight clumps, but this subspecies is often solitary. Rosettes are 1–1½′ (30–48 cm) high and 1–2′ (40–60 cm) around.
Leaves: 8–28″ (20–70 cm) long and 1¾–4″ (4.5–10 cm) wide, grayish or bluish green, with toothed edges, and often with bands of varying color across the width of the leaves.
Flowers: Flowering stalks are 6½–13′ (2–4 m) tall, appearing only at maturity (20-40 years). Individual flowers are yellow, 1–2″ (3–6 cm) long, appearing from March to July.
Fruits: Capsules are 1¼–2″ (3.5–5.5 cm), containing seeds ~3/16″ (5–6 mm).
Habitats: Rocky slopes, washes in desert scrub.
Online References:
References:
Irish, Mary & Irish, Gary, Agaves, Yuccas and Related Plants: A Gardener’s Guide, Timber Press, 2000, p. 115
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California 
2/17/2007 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Liliopsida | Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family |
| Subclass | Liliidae | Includes lilies, orchids, and many others |
| Order | Asparagales | A diverse group that includes asparagus |
| Family | Asparagaceae | Agaves, asparagus, hyacinths, and others |
| Genus | Agave | From Greek, meaning “noble” |
| Species | deserti | Of or from the desert |
Agave deserti description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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