The Jerusalem Botanical Gardens

Common name: Shin Dagger, אגבת לצ'וגייה, אגבת לצ'וגייה

Family: Asparagaceae

Distribution: Northern Mexico to Southern Texas

Habitat: Gravelled to rocky calcareous places in desert scrub; 500-1400 m

IUCN Red list: Least concern

Life form: Fibrous succulent

Remarks: This formidable plant was a dangerous obstacle in the early exploration of the Southwest. The sharp leaves pierced horses legs, and riders who fell were frequently wounded.

Species Etymology: Agave means noble

In memory: of Nizza Yaffe-Ovadia, a teacher of nature and life.

Description: Perennial succulent, with a dense rosette, 30-60 cm high. The leaves are lanceolate, 30-50 cm long and 2-4 cm wide, their color is yellowish-green. They are rigid and very sharp. The plant needs 12-15 years to store enough food for growing an inflorescence stem. The stem reaches a height of 5 meters. The flowers are crowded, on the upper half of the stem, which sometimes bends due to the weight of the flowers. The flowers are yellow, frequently tinged with red or purple. The fruit is oblong, stalkless. This Agave is monocarpic, the plant grows as a leaf rossette for a few years and does not bloom. only in its last year it blooms, bearsfruit and dies.