Agave palmeri  Palmer Agave
SUCCULENT.  The common agave in the Empires, found throughout.  Two distinct varieties:  The large grassland form has long bright green swordlike leaves that are rarely or never colorbanded, and few or no offsets (bottom photo).  It has very tall flowerstalks and stout seedpods that may persist for several years.  The small form (top photo) has smaller, grayer, colorbanded leaves with several to many offsets, shorter flowerspikes, smaller flowers and seedpods, and grows at lower elevations, though the two forms are occasionally found together.
FAMILY:  Agavaceae (Agave Family).