Table 2 Varieties of A. inaequidens recognized by people of Michoacán, Mexico
Variety name | Main features | Habitat |
|---|---|---|
‘Maguey chico’ | Produce good mescal, but high dermatitis because it has higher concentration of saponins. Its cooked tissue is sweeter than other varieties. | Grow in cleared sunny areas of pine-oak forest (Queréndaro) |
‘Maguey grande’ | The cooked stem has higher amount of water than other varieties, cause low dermatitis (lower concentration of saponins), less sweet than other varieties | Grow in shaded areas of the pine-oak forests (Queréndaro) |
‘Maguey verde’ | Small size with light Green leaves | Pine-oak forest (Queréndaro and Quiroga), |
‘Maguey cenizo o negro’ | Large size with dark green leaves. | Pine-oak forest (Queréndaro and Quiroga), |
‘Maguey hoja ancha’ | Leaves notoriously wider than other varieties | Pine-oak forest (Queréndaro) |
‘Maguey hoja angosta’ | Leaves notoriously narrower than other varieties | Pine-oak forest (Queréndaro) |
‘Maguey de hojas largas y espina chica’ | Leaves long but with smaller terminal spines | Pine-oak forest (Queréndaro) |
‘Maguey de hojas cortas y espina grande’ | Leaves short but with longer terminal pines | Pine-oak forest (Queréndaro) |
‘Maguey bruto mezcal’ | Plants with fewer narrower and plain leaves. Produce good mescal | Tropical dry forest (Sahuayo) |
‘Maguey bruto chapín’ | Plants with abundant, wider chaneled leaves. Used for producing good mescal, and in the process of distillation used as condenser and collector of the distilled mescal | Tropical dry forest (Sahuayo) |