Re: Re: "Shark Skin Agave"?

Dear Ken,

It does seem curious that this particular hybrid would get the common name "Shark Skin Agave" when there are a number of rough leafed species for which the name would be far more appropriate. Please note that a "common" name is not the same as a cultivar name. Why not just call the cultivar Agave 'Ruth Bancroft'?

As far as the correct names of the parents, it is actually the other way around. 

Agave fernandi-regis A.Berger (1915) is considered a synonym of Agave victoriae-reginae T.Moore (1875). Who said that Agave victoriae-reginae T.Moore is an invalid name? It wasn't me. I had said the Latin names for the variegated cultivar are invalid.

Agave scabra Salm-Dyck (1859) is an invalid homonym of Agave scabra Ortega (1797). The species is correctly named Agave asperrima Jacobi.

Agave victoriae-reginae T.Moore X Agave asperrima Jacobi is the parentage Gentry gave for the hybrid swarm when he originally reported it. He illustrates a wide range of variation in the hybrid swarm representing apparent back crosses to the parent species. 

Gentry, H.S. (1967) PUTATIVE HYBRIDS IN AGAVE. Journal of Heredity 58 (1): 32-36, 3 figs. (see also Gentry, H.S. (1982) AGAVES OF CONTINENTAL NORTH AMERICA. 185, figs. 7.44-7.45.)

Cereusly Steve

  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ken K 
  To: [email protected] 
  Sent: Sunday, March 10, 2002 5:53 PM
  Subject: Re: [AGAVACEAE] Re: "Shark Skin Agave"?


  kenmcclellan wrote:
  > 
  > Hi Breck, Agavaceae et al.  The Shark Skin Agave is a hybrid of A. Ferdinandii-regis x A Scabra.  The 'common' name (Shark Skin) was applied to this hybrid due to its texture and colour.  The cross seems to have a good deal of variation - more in form than in its colour and texture.  If you would like some more photos, I can take some digi-photos of the ones I have. Best regards, Ken in San Diego.



  Here are links to images of the naturally occurring hybrid between A.
  fernandi-regis and A. scabra known as the 'Ruth Bancroft selection". I
  use the name the plant is labeled under in the garden, however I
  understand that it would more correctly be referred to as Agave
  (fernandi-regis x scabra), since 'victoria-reginae' seems to be an
  invalid name.

  A picture on the Yucca Do site - look under the 'Woody lilies'
  Section:
  http://www.yuccado.com/

  A picture on my server, taken at the Bancroft Garden:
  http://www.concentric.net/~ellipsis/Plants/index.html

  Ken
  East S.F. Bay Area, Ca.
  USDA Zone 9
  -2°C to 38°C



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