Agave amica

Agave amica (Medik.) Thiede & Govaerts, Phytotaxa 306(3): 237. 2017; Agave polianthes Thiede & Eggli, Kakteen & Sukk. 52: 166. 2001; A. tuberosa (L.) Thiede & Eggli, Kakteen & Sukk. 50: 112. 1999; Polianthes tuberosa L., Sp. Pl. 315. 1753; Akhter & Ghazanfar, Fl. Pak. @ eFloras.org p. 8; Fl. Nicaragua @ worldflora online; Tuberosa amica Medik., Hist. & Commentat. Acad. Elect. Sci. Theod.- Palat. 6 (Phys.): 430. 1790.

Perennial herb, rootstock tuberous bearing erect leafy stems. Stem short, erect, cylindrical bearing basal and cauline leaves. Basal leaves rosulate, well-developed, linear to lanceolate, 30-60 cm long and ca. 1.2 cm broad, entire, acuminate. Upper leaves (cauline leaves) 8-12 in number, short, reduced, clasping the scape, bright green, reddish near the base. Inflorescence a terminal spike on top of scape, up to 45 cm long with many, up to 30 flowers in pairs, each pair subtended by 1 bract and 2 bracteoles; bracts ca. 4.5 cm x 1.5 cm, ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, yellowish green; bracteoles small, 6-7 mm long, elliptic to linear-lanceolate, acuminate, white. Flowers bisexual, actinomorphic, epigynous, trimerous, waxy white, very fragrant. Tepals 6, connate, perianth funnelform; tube ca. 3.5 cm long, slender, distinctly curved; lobes short, ca. 1.8-2 cm long, oblong-lanceolate, patent, apex acute, waxy white. Stamens 6, adnate with perianth in the tube below lobes, included; filaments short; anthers ca. 9 mm long, pale green, dehiscence longitudinal. Carpels 3, syncarpous, ovary inferior, 3-locular, ovules many per loculus on axile placentas; style short, filiform; stigmas 3, ovate, falcate.

Capsule broadly ellipsoid to depressed globose, topped by persistent perianth; seeds compressed. (Fruit not observed)

Flowering and Fruiting: December
Common Names: Tuberose, Mexican Tuberose; Rajnigandha (Hindi)