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Agave maculata: Difference between revisions

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Converted to APG III taxonomy (agreed system for angiosperms)
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{{Speciesbox
{{italic title}}
|taxon = Manfreda maculosa
{{taxobox
|image = Manfreda maculosa leaves.jpg
|image = Manfreda maculosa leaves.jpg
|authority = (Hook.) Rose
|regnum = [[Plant]]ae
}}
|unranked_divisio = [[Flowering plant|Angiosperms]]
|unranked_classis = [[Monocotyledon|Monocots]]
|ordo = [[Asparagales]]
|familia = [[Agavaceae]]
|genus = ''[[Manfreda]]''
|species = '''''M. maculosa'''''
|binomial = ''Manfreda maculosa''
|binomial_authority = (Hook.) Rose
|}}


'''''Manfreda maculosa''''', commonly known as the '''Texas Tuberose''' or '''Spice Lily''', is a species of [[flowering plant]] in the [[agave]] family, [[Agavaceae]], that is endemic to southern [[Texas]] and northeastern [[Mexico]].
'''''Manfreda maculosa''''', commonly known as the '''Texas Tuberose''' or '''Spice Lily''', is a species of [[flowering plant]] related to [[agave]]s that is endemic to southern [[Texas]] and northeastern [[Mexico]].


==Description==
==Description==

Revision as of 06:31, 18 May 2011

Agave maculata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Asparagaceae
Subfamily: Agavoideae
Genus: Manfreda
Species:
M. maculosa
Binomial name
Manfreda maculosa
(Hook.) Rose

Manfreda maculosa, commonly known as the Texas Tuberose or Spice Lily, is a species of flowering plant related to agaves that is endemic to southern Texas and northeastern Mexico.

Description

Texas Tuberose is acaulescent, meaning the stem is extremely short. The fleshy green leaves are covered with purple spots and 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 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.

Ecology

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 M. maculosa population could threaten the existence of the moths.[1]

Manfreda maculosa flowers

References

  1. ^ 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.

Media related to Manfreda maculosa at Wikimedia Commons Data related to Agave maculata at Wikispecies