Agave Adaptation to Aridity

To show features of Agave taxa adapting to arid habitats, comparative studies at three taxonomic levels in the genus are presented. There is a brief review of Agave physiology and some aspects of recent evolution are discussed. Comparisons among species groups within the genus show several traits differentiating desert species from related taxa. Related taxa in the Deserticolae group are examined over a transect in Baja California, revealing patterns linking leaf shape to climate. In a comparison of leaves of A. desert] Engelm. along an elevational gradient, high intrapopulation variation obscures differences between the sites. Results are summarized as hypotheses to be tested.Desert Plants is published by The University of Arizona for the Boyce Thompson Southwestern Arboretum. For more information about this unique botanical journal, please email the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Publications Office at pubs@cals.arizona.edu