A new species of Agave (Asparagaceae) from Colombia and a taxonomic key for the South American species

As result of recent studies of South American Asparagaceae, one new species of Agave is described and illustrated. The morphological species concept was followed and SEM photographs of different vegetative and reproductive structures were taken. The new species inhabits a narrow endemic area of dry...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Diego Alonso Giraldo Cañas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad Nacional de Colombia 2017-01-01
Series:Caldasia
Subjects:
Online Access:https://revistas.unal.edu.co/index.php/cal/article/view/63318
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:As result of recent studies of South American Asparagaceae, one new species of Agave is described and illustrated. The morphological species concept was followed and SEM photographs of different vegetative and reproductive structures were taken. The new species inhabits a narrow endemic area of dry tropical forest of the Río Cauca Canyon (Antioquia, Colombia) and it belongs to subgenus Agave, group Sisalanae. It is morphologically related to Agave sisalana from Mexico, but clearly differs from it in various vegetative and reproductive characteristics, which are discussed. Based on IUCN criteria, the new species is categorized as endangered (EN). Thus, a total of six species of Agave are currently known in South America −five are native and one is naturalized−. A key to the South American species of Agave is presented.
ISSN:0366-5232
2357-3759