Leuchtenbergia

Taxobox
name = Agave cactus

---

image_width = 240px
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis = Magnoliopsida
ordo = Caryophyllales
familia = Cactaceae
subfamilia = Cactoideae
tribus = Cacteae
genus = "Leuchtenbergia"
genus_authority = Hook.
species = "L. principis"
binomial = "Leuchtenbergia principis"
binomial_authority = Hook.

"Leuchtenbergia principis" (agave cactus or prism cactus), the sole species of the genus "Leuchtenbergia", is a species of cactus. It is native to north-central Mexico (San Luis Potosi, Chihuahua). The genus is named after Maximilian Eugen Joseph (1817-1852), prince of Leuchtenberg and amateur botanist.

It is very slow-growing but can eventually grow up to 70 cm high, with a cylindrical stem which becomes bare and corky at the base with age. It has long, slender, grayish-green tubercles 6-12 cm long, with purplish-red blotches at their tips. The tubercles are topped with papery spines, making the plant resemble an agave; old, basal tubercles dry up and fall off. After four years or so, yellow, funnel-shaped flowers 5-6 cm diameter may be borne at the tubercle tips. The fruit is smooth and green, 3 cm long and 2 cm broad. It has a large, tuberous taproot.

Taxonomy

It is related to the genus "Ferocactus", and hybrids have been created between these two genera.

References

*Huxley, A., ed. (1992). "New RHS Dictionary of Gardening". Macmillan.