Agave maculata
| Texas tuberose | |
|---|---|
| |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
| Division: | |
| Class: | |
| Order: | |
| Family: | |
| Genus: | |
| Species: | M. maculosa
|
| Binomial name | |
| Manfreda maculosa (Hook.) Rose
| |
The Texas tuberose (Manfreda maculosa), also known as the Spice Lily, is a plant of the Agave family, notable for its fleshy green leaves covered with purple spots. Originally from southern Texas and northeastern Mexico, it is also known as the spice lily. It is endemic to South Texas.
Caterpillars of the rare Manfreda giant-skipper (Stallingsia maculosa) depend on this plant for food. This dependence extends to the success of the life cycle of the Manfreda giant-skipper, and illustrates the process of natural selection resulting in the dependence of either member of a pair of plant or insect species. This has implications in the field of human-caused destruction of biodiversity, since if one species is extirpated or rendered extinct, a dependent species would follow.
The plant is acauline (without a stem) and the leaves often lay flat against the ground, and the new flower stalks are fed on by small mammals, which can end the flowering effort for that season. In a drought the leafs present will wilt and disappear, leaving nothing visible above ground. Sufficient precipitation yields a bloom stalk 60 cm (24 in) tall in the period April-September.
 | This monocot-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |