Like Agave parryi, this forms a choice medium-sized rosette of gray leaves in a compact, artichoke-like arrangement. It differs in that it is usually solitary, not rhizomatous, and therefore, is much less readily available. It also differs from other members of the Parryanae group of agaves in its mammillate leaf margins (resembling those of A. potatorum) and its lax, arching inflorescence. In mature plants the mammillae are surmounted with dark-brown, curved spines though in juvenile plants these are finer serrations and can be vividly colored yellow to reddish. We offer HBG 108054, plants from seed collected Jan 20, 2004, by Julia Etter & Martin Kristen (EK 01269), at 1525 m elevation, just W of Km 31 along the Tepic to Guadalajara road (Mex 15D), Jalisco, Mexico. $8.
Published in the Cactus and Succulent Journal, Vol. 84 (2), March - April, 2012