Accepted Scientific Name: Agave ghiesbreghtii K.Koch
Wochenschr. Vereines Beford. Gartenbaues Konigl. Preuss. Staaten (1862) 83, 143. Remarks: as "ghiesbrechtii".
Agave purpusorum Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli
Origin and Habitat: Mexico, state Puebla, near Tehacan
Synonyms:
See all synonyms of Agave ghiesbreghtii
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Accepted name in llifle Database:Agave ghiesbreghtii K.KochWochenschr. Vereines Beford. Gartenbaues Konigl. Preuss. Staaten (1862) 83, 143. Remarks: as "ghiesbrechtii".Synonymy: 9
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Description: Agave purpusorumSN|494]]SN|10453]] is an offsetting medium sized agave perhaps only a local form of Agave ghiesbreghtiiSN|10453]]SN|494]], the “purpusorum form”has more open, few-leaved rosettes with shorter green leaves. It suckers profusely slowly forming small compact clumps with several offsets on short rhizomes growing close to the mother plant .
Rosette: Open with few short, strongly armed leaves, usually 35-70 cm in diameter and 25-40 cm high.
Stem: Trunk-less .
Leaves. Leaves broadly lanceolate ovate, deltoid or (rarely) broadly linear, straight or up-curving, thick, rigid, narrowed above the base and widest in the middle, apex acuminate, convex or more or less triangular below, plane to deeply grooved on the upper surface, 17-25(-35) long and (5-)6- 7(-12) cm wide, smooth, dark to light green. Sometime broadly pale stripped with paler green in the centre of the leaves. Margins horny. relatively narrow, brown; marginal teeth frequently straight, sometimes curved upwards or downwards, larger teeth 5 - 8 (-10) mm. Brown to greyish 1-3 cm apart, reduced at the Leaves apex; Terminal Spine subulate. 2-4 cm horny, brown to grey.
Flowers: Greenish-purple or greenish brown 40-50 mm, Pedicel 3-4 mm long; Ovary cylindrical. 16 - 20 mm, neck constricted; tepals greenish-brown to purplish, paler within; tube broadly funnel-shaped. 3 - 5 (-10?) mm. lobes subequal l5 - 21 mm long.
Blooming season:** Often in the spring.
Fruits: 2,2 cm x 1,5 cm long capsules.
Seeds:*** 4 x 3 mm oblong.
Subspecies, varieties, forms and cultivars of plants belonging to the Agave ghiesbreghtii group
- Agave ghiesbreghtii K.Koch: Extensively offsetting medium sized agave, with neat succulent rosettes, up to 75 cm in diameter, 50 cm tall.
- Agave leguayana Verschaff.: Characterized by longer leaves with closely spaced theeth.
- Agave purpusorum A.Berger: It has open, few-leaved rosettes with short green leaves.
- Agave rohanii Jacobi: With compact concave blue-green leaves.
Agave purpusorum Photo by: Valentino Vallicelli Send a photo of this plant.The gallery now contains thousands of pictures, however it is possible to do even more. We are, of course, seeking photos of species not yet shown in the gallery but not only that, we are also looking for better pictures than those already present.
Read More... Cultivation and Propagation: Often used for hedge and animal barrier. It is a stunning specimen plant for containers or a well drained spot in the garden. Grow it in porous soil with adequate drainage. It do well in full sun or a lightly shaded area. Water thoroughly when soil is dry to the touch. In winter watering this plant can be done once every 1-2 months, there is no need to mist the leaves.
It holds up well in drought situations and can take light freezes.
Propagation: Relatively easy to propagate by seeds or by suckers. Remove the basal suckers in spring or summer and let the cuttings dry for a few days before inserting in compost. only problem is the logistics of getting to the suckers - very sharp spines and suckers usually right up against, or underneath the mother plant.
Uses: These striking plants are wonderful when used for accent or simply to provide some all year round foliage colour and often used in a pot as a patio plant, they make an eye-catching statement and along with other evergreen plants in pots, can be moved around to change the scenery or position to give more shelter.