Rosette and bulbils
In the compilation by Hodgson and colleagues, rosettes are 0.6–1.2 m tall and leaves 50–80 cm long. The leaf margins bear relatively small teeth. In addition to basal and rhizomatous offsets, the plant produces bulbils on an undamaged inflorescence. Each bulbil is a small rosette capable of further growth after separation and planting. [Hodgson et al. 2023]
Flora of North America describes a narrow, branched inflorescence on a stalk 3–4 m tall. The flowers have a cream perianth with a darker apex. Abundant bulbil formation is an important biological feature of this species. [Reveal and Hodgson 2002]
Origin and evidence of cultivation
Plants of the World Online accepts Agave murpheyi Gibson and gives its range from central Arizona to northwestern Sonora. Research on ancient cultivation also examines this area through the history of human plant movement. A 2023 review discusses Arizona sites, including those north of Phoenix and in the Tonto Basin, associated with Hohokam agriculture. The authors identify the location of ancestral wild populations as an unresolved question. [2-WWW] [Hodgson et al. 2023]
Reproduction and maturation
Vegetative propagation is the main reproductive mode of this agave. Fruits and seeds are produced occasionally. Hodgson and colleagues describe bulbils persisting on the inflorescence for more than a year, including through drought. Following transplantation, they established particularly well among rock piles. Easily transported propagules facilitated exchange and cultivation, while successive rosettes maintained selected traits. [Hodgson et al. 2023]
With supplemental watering, the plants discussed in the review matured within 7–10 years. This observation applies to the cultivation conditions described. Water and resource availability affect the period of growth before flowering. Ancient farmers also used the seasonal development of the inflorescence to harvest plants for food when other fresh products were scarce. [Hodgson et al. 2023]
Significance of surviving clones
A present-day rosette is one member of a vegetative lineage maintained by successive rosettes. Surviving clusters therefore preserve information about past selection, exchange of planting material and landscape management. The 2023 review combines botanical, genetic and archaeological evidence while leaving the precise origins of individual lineages for further investigation. [Hodgson et al. 2023]