Another of the large “century plants,” Parry agave blooms from June to
August, producing spectacular displays on hillsides in northern Mexico,
southern New Mexico, and southern Arizona. Some of the larger agaves are
called mescal (mess-KAHL) because of a potent alcoholic beverage of that
name distilled from the fermented sap derived from the bud stalks.
Tequila (tee-KEEL-ah), the famous native drink of Mexico, also is
distilled from fermented agave juices, and the beerlike pulque
(pool-KAY) has a similar derivation. Indians roasted the bud stalks in
stone-lined pits covered with hot rocks. Some of these pits may still be
seen.
_Agave parryi_ Amaryllis Family
[Illustration: PARRY AGAVE]