Notes on Agave in the Netherlands West Indies and North Venezuela

In Curaçao, Aruba and Bonaire the most common species of Agave is A. vivipara. Although the variability is rather great, this species is nearly always easily recognizable. In Aruba, however, in two localities agaves are found, namely A. Rutteniae and A. arubensis, which differ from A. vivipara in their generative parts only. The A. Cocui, which occasionally occurs in Curaçao and Bonaire, but which has probably been introduced from the coast of Venezuela, differs from these species, both in shape and size. A. Boldinghiana, which is found here and there on alle three islands, is in herbarium material not always easily distinguished from the above named species, in the field it is always easily recognizable. A. Karatto, which is frequently cultivated as a living hedge in Aruba, Curaçao and Bonaire, has very little in common with the other agaves growing there; this species occurs also in St. Eustatius and the neighbouring islands and it seems probable that it was introduced from there in former times, when there was a more lively trade between these islands. On the Venezuelan Continent there probably is only one species of Agave, A. Cocui, which, however, shows a wide range of variability in the form of the terminal spine. In Trinidad and Chacachacare A. evadens occurs; possibly it may be found on the neighbouring part of the continent as well. On the Venezuelan Islands, A. vivipara is known from Blanquilla and Los Hermanos, A. Cocui from Los Frailes and Los Testigos. The common agave of Margarita, which I determined as A. vivipara, resembles a special form of A. Cocui growing on the continental coast opposite. Although it seems not possible to differentiate them clearly, yet, for the time being, it does not seem advisable to unite these two species.