About Agave vilmoriniana A.Berger
Agave vilmoriniana A.Berger, sometimes misspelled as vilmoriana, is commonly called octopus agave. This agave species is endemic to Mexico. It is recognizable by its untoothed, arching, twisting leaves. Its flower stalk can grow as tall as 9 m (30 ft), and the plant typically dies after flowering. In its natural habitat, octopus agave grows on the cliffs of barrancas across southern Sonora, Chihuahua, Sinaloa, Jalisco, Durango, Nayarit, and Aguascalientes, at elevations between 600 and 1,700 meters. Agave vilmoriniana has one of the highest known concentrations of the sapogenin smilagenin. In parts of Mexico, people cut and dry its leaves, then beat the fibers to create brushes that have built-in soap. This species, known as octopus agave, is also cultivated as an ornamental plant for arid garden plantings and container growing.
