PlantFiles: King Ferdinand Agave
Agave nickelsiae

IN addition to these these two plants looking quite distinct, there does not appear to be any 'transition' forms in nature, which one would expect to see if these two were really the same species. The plants either look distinctly like this, or like a form of agave victoriae-reginae, and nothing in between.

This agave looks a bit like Agave victoriae-reginae only it has larger, thicker and less leaves in its crown. The larger and more separated leaves show even more the white pattern left by the leaves that were once on top during development... a very show plant. Slow to sucker, but it seems to. Don't know much else about it, other than it is often used in crosses with other agaves.

Recently some authors (lumpers) have included this into Agave victoriae-reginae, but a well respected collector and grower of Agaves is pretty firm about these being two completely separate species as they are not even remotely close to each other in Mexico, and their enviroment varies quite a bit- this one growing on hills and flat, rocky areas, while A victoriae tends to grow on very steep hillsides and cliffs. Also this plant grows to nearly twice the size of the other.