Agave americana

Agave americana (American) is a species of Agave.

Background
Flower yellowish-green, 2in. to 3 1/2in. long, in very dense globose clusters, on pedicels 1/4in. to 1/2in. long; scape, including the thyrsoid panicle, 24ft. to 36ft. high. August. leaves usually thirty to forty, sometimes more, in a rosette, oblanceolate-spathulate, 3ft. to 6ft. long, 6in. to 9in. broad above the  middle, glaucous green, more or less concave all down the face, the outer leaves recurved, the dark brown pungent point 1in. to 2in. long; prickles brown-tipped, 1/6in. to 1/4in. long. South America, 1640.

Varieties/Subspecies
A. a. mexicana (Mexican). A variety much shorter in the leaves  than the species, of which it may be regarded as one of the many small forms.

A. a. picta (painted). leaves 2ft. to 3ft. long, about 4in. wide, lower  ones recurved, upper ones erect, moderately thick, rich golden yellow on both sides, bordered with dark green. A very splendid variety. SYN. A. ornata.

A. a. variegata (variegated). leaves 6ft. or more in length, 6in. or 8in. wide, dark green in the centre, broadly margined with rich yellow. A very desirable variety.