Lechuguilla is the only plant endemic to the

Lechuguilla
Agavaceae, Agave lechuguilla
November 2012
•  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.
Stan Shebs
© Peter Dollinger
lhttp://fireflyforest.net/firefly/2006/03/08/herd-of-javelinas/
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.
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.
It’s toxic to cattle
and sheep
Karen Keller ©2004
•  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/lechuguillashort-plant-with-a-long-history/
•  conservenature.org
•  Lechuguilla liquors Facebook profile
•  lhttp://fireflyforest.net/firefly/2006/03/08/herd-of-javelinas/
©Benny J. Simpson, Texas A&M Dallas