•  Lechuguilla is the only plant endemic to the Chihuahuan Desert. While there are several indicator species for the Chihuahuan Desert (e.g. creosote bush, tarbush, and ocotillo), lechuguilla is the only one that grows nowhere else.

•  In New Mexico lechugilla grows in the calcareous soils of the central mountainous regions near the Texan border.

•  A. lechuguilla is the smallest of the agave species.

Lechuguilla Agavaceae, Agave lechuguilla

•  http://ddl.nmsu.edu/chihuahua.htm •  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agave_lechuguilla • Texas Parks & Wildlife website •  visitpuertovallarta.com •  http://aneyefortexas.wordpress.com/2011/02/20/lechuguilla-

short-plant-with-a-long-history/ •  conservenature.org •  Lechuguilla liquors Facebook profile •  lhttp://fireflyforest.net/firefly/2006/03/08/herd-of-javelinas/

November 2012

Collared peccary love to eat this plant

Lechuguilla has many uses. People have been using this plant for over 10,000 years. The fiber has been used for clothing, baskets, ropes, and rugs. The heart and bloom stalk were roasted and eaten. The remains of lechuguilla have been found in many archeological sites.

It’s toxic to cattle and sheep

©Benny J. Simpson, Texas A&M Dallas

lhttp://fireflyforest.net/firefly/2006/03/08/herd-of-javelinas/

Stan Shebs

Karen Keller ©2004

© Peter Dollinger

The sap has toxins which have been used as an antibiotic, wound balm, arrow poison, and is still fermented into a type of moonshine and sold clandestinely in Mexico.