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{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{taxobox
{{Speciesbox
|name = Texas tuberose
|taxon = Agave maculata
|image = Manfreda maculosa leaves.jpg
|image = Manfreda maculosa leaves.jpg
|authority = (Hook.) Rose<ref name=WCSP_293973/>
|regnum = [[Plantae]]
|synonyms =
|unranked_divisio = [[Angiosperms]]
{{Species list
|unranked_classis = [[Monocots]]
|Agave maculata|Engelm. ex Torr., nom. illeg.
|ordo = [[Asparagales]]
|Agave maculosa|Hook.
|familia = [[Agavaceae]]
|genus = ''[[Manfreda]]''
|Manfreda maculosa|(Hook.) Rose
|species = '''''M. maculosa'''''
|Polianthes maculosa|(Hook.) Shinners
}}
|binomial = ''Manfreda maculosa''
|synonyms_ref = <ref name=WCSP_293973/>
|binomial_authority = (Hook.) Rose
|}}
}}
[[File:Manfreda maculosa MHNT.BOT.2011.3.96.jpg|thumb|Seeds [[MHNT]]]]


The '''Texas tuberose''' (''[[Manfreda]] maculosa''), also known as the Spice Lily, is a [[plant]] of the [[Agavaceae|Agave family]], notable for its fleshy green [[Leaf|leaves]] covered with purple spots. It is endemic to southern [[Texas]] and northeastern [[Mexico]].
'''''Agave maculata''''' ([[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]] ''Manfreda maculosa''), commonly known as the '''Texas tuberose''' or '''spice lily''', is a species of ''[[Agave]]'' that is endemic to southern [[Texas]] and northeastern [[Mexico]].


==Description==
The plant is acauline (without a stem) and the leaves often lay flat on the ground. In a drought, the leaves will wither and disappear, leaving little or nothing visible above ground. Sufficient precipitation yields an inflorescence 60 cm (24 in) tall in the period April-September. The new flower stalks (inflorescences) are fed on by small mammals, which can end the flowering effort for that season.
The Texas tuberose is acaulescent, meaning the [[Plant stem|stem]] is extremely short. The fleshy silvery-green [[Leaf|leaves]] are covered with purple spots and in low light situations may lay flat on the ground. In a drought, the leaves may wither, leaving little or nothing visible above ground. Sufficient precipitation yields an inflorescence {{convert|60|cm|in|abbr=on}} tall in the period April–September. The new flower stalks (inflorescences) are fed on by small mammals, [[javelina]], deer, and feral pigs, which can end the flowering effort for that season. The leaves are fed on by these as well, especially during droughts, weakening and killing the plants.


The flowers open and change colors over 3-4 days of life, from white to pink to dark red. The inferior ovaries turn from green to purple to black as they mature as seed pods.
The flowers open and change colors over 3–4 days of life, from white to pink to dark red. The inferior ovaries turn from green to purple to black as they mature as [[fruit|seedpods]].


==Taxonomy==
Caterpillars of the rare [[Manfreda giant-skipper]] or "Aloe Skipper" (''Stallingsia maculosa'' (= ''Stallingsia smithi'')) depend on this plant for food, and they also lay eggs on the leaves. A reduction in population of ''M. maculosa'' plants could threaten the existence of the moths.
''Agave maculata'' was first described by [[Eduard August von Regel|Eduard von Regel]] in 1856. Later, in 1859, [[William Jackson Hooker|William Hooker]] described the same species as ''Agave maculosa''. It was under this [[Synonym (taxonomy)|synonym]] that it was transferred to the genus ''Manfreda'' and then the genus ''Polianthes'' (both now included in ''Agave''), but Regel's [[Binomial nomenclature#Codes|epithet]] is the oldest and so has priority.<ref name=WCSP_293973/>


==Ecology==
[[Image:Manfreda maculosa flowers.jpg|none|250px|thumb|''Manfreda maculosa'' flowers]]
Texas tuberose is the primary host plant for the [[caterpillar]]s of the rare manfreda giant-skipper or aloe skipper (''[[Stallingsia]] [[Stallingsia maculosus|maculosus]]'' (= ''Stallingsia smithi'')). A reduction in the ''A.&nbsp;maculata'' population could threaten the existence of the butterflies.<ref name="Quinn">{{cite web |url=http://www.texasento.net/Stallingsia.htm |first=Mike |last=Quinn |title=Manfreda Giant-Skipper ''Stallingsia maculosus'' (H. A. Freeman, 1955) |work=Texas Entomology |date=2008-12-05 |accessdate=2007-08-26}}</ref>

[[File:Manfreda inflorescence, flowers with petals intact.jpg|thumb|right|Inflorescence, flowers with petals intact]]


==References==
==References==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name=WCSP_293973>{{cite web |title=''Agave maculata''|work=[[World Checklist of Selected Plant Families]] |publisher=[[Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew]] |url=http://wcsp.science.kew.org/namedetail.do?name_id=293973 |accessdate=2019-04-13}}</ref>
}}
⚫
* Lehman, R.L., O'Brien, R., and T. White. 2005. Plants of the Texas coastal bend. Texas A&M Univ. Press. 352 pp.
⚫
* Scott, J.A. 1986. The butterflies of North America: a natural history and field guide. Stanford Univ. Press. 583 pp.


==External links==
⚫
Lehman, R.L., O'Brien, R., and T. White. 2005. Plants of the Texas coastal bend. Texas A&M Univ. Press. 352 pp.
{{commonscat|Agave maculata}}
{{Wikispecies-inline}}


{{Taxonbar|from1=Q60433588|from2=Q391794|from3=Q6748556}}
⚫
Scott, J.A. 1986. The butterflies of North America: a natural history and field guide. Stanford Univ. Press. 583 pp.


[[Category:Agavaceae]]
[[Category:Agave|maculata]]
[[Category:Flora of Northeastern Mexico]]
[[Category:Flora of Northeastern Mexico]]
[[Category:Flora of Southwestern Texas]]
[[Category:Flora of Tamaulipas]]
[[Category:Flora of Texas]]
[[Category:Flora of the Rio Grande valleys]]
[[Category:Flora of the Chihuahuan Desert]]
[[Category:Garden plants of North America]]
[[Category:Butterfly food plants]]
[[Category:Drought-tolerant plants]]
[[Category:Plants described in 1856]]

Latest revision as of 22:56, 27 March 2023

Agave maculata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Genus: Agave
Species:
A. maculata
Binomial name
Agave maculata
(Hook.) Rose[1]
Synonyms[1]
  • Agave maculata Engelm. ex Torr., nom. illeg.
  • Agave maculosa Hook.
  • Manfreda maculosa (Hook.) Rose
  • Polianthes maculosa (Hook.) Shinners
Seeds MHNT

Agave maculata (synonym Manfreda maculosa), commonly known as the Texas tuberose or spice lily, is a species of Agave that is endemic to southern Texas and northeastern Mexico.

Description

[edit]

The Texas tuberose is acaulescent, meaning the stem is extremely short. The fleshy silvery-green leaves are covered with purple spots and in low light situations may lay flat on the ground. In a drought, the leaves may wither, leaving little or nothing visible above ground. Sufficient precipitation yields an inflorescence 60 cm (24 in) tall in the period April–September. The new flower stalks (inflorescences) are fed on by small mammals, javelina, deer, and feral pigs, which can end the flowering effort for that season. The leaves are fed on by these as well, especially during droughts, weakening and killing the plants.

The flowers open and change colors over 3–4 days of life, from white to pink to dark red. The inferior ovaries turn from green to purple to black as they mature as seedpods.

Taxonomy

[edit]

Agave maculata was first described by Eduard von Regel in 1856. Later, in 1859, William Hooker described the same species as Agave maculosa. It was under this synonym that it was transferred to the genus Manfreda and then the genus Polianthes (both now included in Agave), but Regel's epithet is the oldest and so has priority.[1]

Ecology

[edit]

Texas tuberose is the primary host plant for the caterpillars of the rare manfreda giant-skipper or aloe skipper (Stallingsia maculosus (= Stallingsia smithi)). A reduction in the A. maculata population could threaten the existence of the butterflies.[2]

Inflorescence, flowers with petals intact

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c "Agave maculata". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 2019-04-13.
  2. ^ Quinn, Mike (2008-12-05). "Manfreda Giant-Skipper Stallingsia maculosus (H. A. Freeman, 1955)". Texas Entomology. Retrieved 2007-08-26.
  • Lehman, R.L., O'Brien, R., and T. White. 2005. Plants of the Texas coastal bend. Texas A&M Univ. Press. 352 pp.
  • Scott, J.A. 1986. The butterflies of North America: a natural history and field guide. Stanford Univ. Press. 583 pp.
[edit]
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Data related to Agave maculata at Wikispecies

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