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Agave gracilipes

Trel.

Slim-foot Agave

G3Vulnerable Found in 3 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G3VulnerableGlobal Rank
UnknownThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.143511
Element CodePMAGA01090
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderAsparagales
FamilyAsparagaceae
GenusAgave
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2026-01-22
Change Date2026-01-22
Edition Date1993-07-14
Edition AuthorsSkello, M. (1993), rev. L. Kutner (6/94), rev. Soteropoulos (2026)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent20,000-200,000 square km (about 8000-80,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
Agave gracilipes is a wide-ranging perennial succulent, forb to shrub found in gravelly to rocky, often calcareous places in grasslands, desert scrub, and pinyon juniper woodlands. It occurs in south central North America in western Texas and southern New Mexico in the United States south to northern Mexico in Chihuahua. There are over 20, and likely fewer than 80, occurrences, which face threats from grazing, hybridization, and other threats in some places. Monitoring of populations should be conducted to improve our understanding of reproduction, plant abundance, threats, and trends, as well as continuing conservation measures to protect the taxon.
Range Extent Comments
Agave gracilipes occurs in south central North America in western Texas and southern New Mexico in the United States south to northern Mexico in Chihuahua (FNA 2002, Heil and O'Kane 2025, eFloraMex 2026). Range extent was estimated to be over 20,00 square kilometers using herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, and range extent is nearly 100,000 square kilometers when historic observations are included (RARECAT 2025, GBIF 2026, iNaturalist 2026, SEINet 2026).
Occurrences Comments
By applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens and photo-based observations documented between 1994 and 2025, it is estimated that there are over 20, though likely fewer than 80, occurrences rangewide (RARECAT 2025, GBIF 2026, iNaturalist 2026, SEINet 2026).
Threat Impact Comments
Although threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by grazing, hybridization (with A. lechuguilla), and other threats in some places, though there is insufficient data, including anecdotal accounts, to understand scope and severity of threats for this species (FNA 2002).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Agave gracilipes grows in "gravelly to rocky, often calcareous places in grasslands, desert scrub, and pinyon juniper woodlands" (FNA 2002, Heil and O'Kane 2025).

Reproduction

This taxon flowers in the summer (June) to early fall (September) (FNA 2002, Wildflower Center 2026). Plants are monocarpic, meaning they flower once in their lifetime and then die (Wildflower Center 2026). Plants rarely create colonies, sparsely suckering at the base of parent plants (FNA 2002, Wildflower Center 2026).
Terrestrial Habitats
Woodland - ConiferWoodland - MixedShrubland/chaparralGrassland/herbaceousDesert
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN3
ProvinceRankNative
TexasS3Yes
New MexicoSNRYes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)
8.3 - Introduced genetic materialUnknownUnknownHigh (continuing)

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Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (3)
New Mexico (3)
AreaForestAcres
Last Chance CanyonLincoln National Forest8,934
South Guadalupe MountainsLincoln National Forest20,930
West Face Sacramento MountainsLincoln National Forest41,176
References (10)
  1. Correll, D.S., and M.C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas. Texas Research Foundation, Renner. 1881 pp.
  2. eFloraMex. 2026. La flora electronica de Mexico. Online. Available: www.efloramex.ib.unam.mx (accessed 2026).
  3. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2002a. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 26. Magnoliophyta: Liliidae: Liliales and Orchidales. Oxford Univ. Press, New York. xxvi + 723 pp.
  4. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2026. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2026).
  5. Heil, K.D., and S.L. O'Kane. 2025. Vascular plants of New Mexico. Missouri Botanical Garden Press, St. Louis. 1119 pp.
  6. iNaturalist. 2026. Online. Available: https://www.inaturalist.org (accessed 2026).
  7. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  8. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  9. Southwest Environmental Information Network (SEINet). 2026. Collections Databases. Online. Available: https://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/collections/index.php (accessed 2026).
  10. Wildflower Center. 2026. Native Plant Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Austin Texas. Online. Available: https://www.wildflower.org/plants/ (accessed 2026).