What is the botanical family of the blue Weber agave used for tequila?

The botanical family of the blue Weber agave used for tequila is Asparagaceae.

Blue Weber agave is the cultivated tequila plant botanically known as Agave tequilana Weber var. azul. Modern plant classification places the genus Agave in the family Asparagaceae, the asparagus family. Older classifications sometimes placed agaves in their own family, Agavaceae, which is why older references can appear to disagree.

The plant is a large succulent with stiff, pointed leaves arranged around a central heart. Producers harvest that heart, or piña, after years of growth and remove the leaves before cooking it. The cooked heart supplies the sugars used in fermentation and distillation.

The family name does not mean tequila can be made from asparagus or another member of Asparagaceae. Mexican tequila rules specifically require the blue Weber variety of Agave tequilana. Other agaves may be used for mezcal or other regional spirits, but not for tequila.