Lechuguillas

I was thinking about the agave lechuguilla, ubiquitous in our Chihuahuan Desert.  It grows humbly on the rockiest slopes, between limestone lenses and amid the rubble of ancient weathering on talus slopes.  The agave lechuguilla was used by the ancient peoples of this region for food, fiber, tools, and medicine, and is still used to obtain ixtle fibers, soap, and for medical purposes.  A poultice of the cooked leaves with the fibers removed is a good external treatment for blisters and muscle sprains, and the soap obtained from the sap is useful for washing clothes.  Ixtle, the stringy fiber, can be used to make twine, rope, cloth, and as a scrubber for cleaning pots (by far its most common use on both sides of our border). 

Lechuguillas in the desert

Agave lechuguilla hearts can be eaten, but must be roasted well to break down toxins and convert sugars to starch. We have used the dried seed stalks to decorate with.   

Lechuguilla stalks in our living room