Agave utahensis

Foliage detail.
Though succulent and spiny, Agave are quite unrelated to cacti.

Grand Canyon National Park: On point ca. 500 feet northeast of
Three Mile Rest House of Bright Angel Trail, at ca. 4640 feet elevation.

23 July 2002.

Habitat, showing living and dead Agave rosettes.

Same time and location as top image, different individuals.

The green patch in the background at far right is Indian Garden;
the trail visible beyond it ends at Plateau Point overlooking the Inner Gorge.

Habit in bloom.

Grand Canyon National Park: Along Hermit Trail at ca. 5600 feet elevation,
Waldron Basin in background.

6 June 2001.

Habit and habitat, with dead plant at left with dead stalk,
plant at right with immature inflorescence.

Grand Canyon National Park: Along South Kaibab Trail at Skeleton Point
at ca. 5200 feet elevation.

18 April 2007.

Immature flower buds: detail of immature inflorescence from image above.

18 April 2007.

Flower buds on young inflorescence,
same vicinity as prior image.

18 April 2007.

Portion of fruiting inflorescence.

Summit in background is called The Battleship.
Grand Canyon National Park: Near Three Mile Rest House
along Bright Angel Trail, at ca. 4640 feet elevation.

23 July 2002.

Habit of dead rosette and inflorescence persisting from the prior year.
The plant dies after flowering.

Grand Canyon National Park: Along South Kaibab Trail
near Skeleton Point, at ca. 5200 feet elevation.
View is to the east with Pattie Butte the prominent
cone-shaped peak in the center of the image.

6 April 2002.

Photographs copyright © Lee Dittmann