Agave americana flavored with the very pungent mezcal worm. "Mezcal" and "tequila", although also produced from agave plants, are different from "pulque" in their technique for extracting the sugars from the heart of the plant, and in that they are distilled spirits. In "mezcal" and "tequila" production, the sugars are extracted from the "piñas" (or hearts) by heating them in ovens, rather than by collecting "aguamiel" from the plant's cut stalk. Thus, if one were to distill "pulque", it would not be a form of "mezcal", but rather a different drink. Agave nectar is marketed as a natural form of sugar with
Agave parviflora pollinated by bees such as bumblebees. This species is the smallest agave in Arizona and is sought by collectors. For this reason the species has declined in its native habitat. There are only about two dozen natural populations in Arizona. Other threats to the species include road construction and mining. The plant is valued in cultivation and has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. Subspecies of the plant include ssp. "parviflora" and ssp. "densiflora". Agave parviflora Agave parviflora is a species of succulent perennial flowering plant in the asparagus family, known by the common names Santa Cruz