[Illustration: plant silhouette]
Agave plants require a number of years to store sufficient plant foods
for the production of the huge flower stalk which grows with amazing
rapidity to produce the many flowers and seeds, after which the plant
dies. This long pre-blossom period of a dozen to 15 or more years is the
basis for the name “Centuryplant.” If the young flower stalk is cut off,
the sweet sap may be collected and fermented to form highly intoxicating
beverages, some of which are distilled commercially. Among these are
mescal, pulque (POOL-kay), and tequila (tay-KEEL-ah). Indians cut the
young bud stalks, and roast them in rock-lined pits.
[Illustration: Calochortus kennedyi
Calochortus flexuosus]
Common names: MARIPOSA, DESERT-MARIPOSA
Arizona and California deserts: (_Calochortus kennedyi_). Orange.
March-May.
Lily family. Size: Perennial, about 2 feet tall.
Under favorable weather conditions, this short-stemmed Mariposa presents
a gorgeous display of spring color. Closely related to the
white-flowered Twisted-stem Mariposa (_C. flexuosus_) and to the
Sego-lily (state flower of Utah), the Desert-mariposa is found below
5,000 feet in Nevada, southern California, southern Arizona, and
northern Sonora. When growing beneath taller shrubs, it forsakes its
short-stemmed habit and forces its way up through the low branches,
displaying its blossom above.
The Mariposas, of which there are several species, are among the most
beautiful wildflowers of the Southwest.