Bat-pollinated flowers converge on a recognisable syndrome: nocturnal opening, pale or dull colouring, musty rather than sweet scent, robust structure that tolerates a landing animal, and copious dilute nectar. Saguaro, organ pipe and cardón cacti all fit, as do many agaves.
Leptonycteris yerbabuenae hovers or clings at the flower, extends a long tongue tipped with hair-like papillae, and leaves with pollen dusted across its face and chest. Individuals move between plants across considerable distances, which matters for outcrossing in sparse desert populations. The bats migrate along a nectar corridor that tracks the sequential flowering of these plants from Mexico into the southwestern United States.
The agave connection is often stated too simply. Commercial blue agave for tequila is usually harvested before flowering and propagated from clones, so bats pollinate wild and traditionally managed agaves far more than the industrial crop. The recovery of this species was recognised when the United States removed it from the endangered species list in 2018.