Yucca Flower

The yuccas comprise the genus Yucca of 40-50 species of perennials, shrubs, and trees in the agave family Agavaceae, notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal clusters of white or whitish flowers. They are native to the hot and dry parts of North America, Central America, and the West Indies.

Yuccas have a very specialized pollination system, being pollinated by the yucca moth; the insect purposefully transfers the pollen from the stamens of one plant to the stigma of another, and at the same time lays an egg in the flower; the moth larva then eats some of the developing seeds, but far from all.

Yuccas are widely grown as ornamental plants in gardens. Many yuccas also bear edible parts, including fruits, seeds, flowers, flowering stems, and more rarely roots, but use of these is sufficiently limited that references to yucca as food more often than not stem from confusion with the similarly spelled but botanically unrelated yuca.

Dried yucca has the lowest ignition temperature of any wood, making it desirable for fire-starting.

The "yucca flower" is the state flower of New Mexico. No species name is given in the citation.


Some Species
Yucca baccata - The Datil yucca, Banana yucca is a common type of yucca native to the Mojave Desert of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, from southeastern California north to Utah, east to western Texas and south to Sonora and Chihuahua. It gets its name from its banana-shaped fruit.

Yucca elata - The Soaptree yucca is a perennial plant in the genus Yucca in the family Agavaceae. It is native to southwestern North America, in the Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan Desert in the United States. Native Americans used the fiber of the Soaptree Yucca's leaves to weave baskets. Inside the trunk and roots of the plant is a soapy substance high in saponins. In the past, this was commonly used as a substitute for soap and shampoo. Also, in times of drought ranchers have used the plant as an emergency food supply for their cattle.

Yucca filamentosa, commonly known as Adam's needle, is a medicinal plant native to eastern North America. Usually trunkless Yucca filamentosa is a multisuckering plant with heads of 30 inch (75cm) long, filamentous, blue green strappy leaves. The plant is fully hardy. Yucca filamentosa is readily identified from other Yucca by white threads (filaments) on the leaf margins. Flower stems up to 10ft (3 metres) tall bear masses of pendulous cream flowers, in summer.

Yucca gloriosa is a shrub of the family Agavaceae, and of the genus Yucca. Common names include Spanish Dagger, Moundlily Yucca, Soft-tipped Yucca, Spanish Bayonet or Sea Islands Yucca. The plant is known to thrive as a domestic plant and is sold internationally. In a domestic environment, the plant has average water requirements, and little maintenance is needed other than the removal of dead leaves when the shrub nears its ultimate height. The Spanish Dagger has been known to cause skin irritation and even allergic reactions upon contact. The leaf points are even sharp enough to break the skin.

Yucca guatemalensis, is the tallest of the Yucca species of the family Agavaceae. Common names for this species include spineless yucca, soft-tip yucca, blue-stem yucca and giant yucca. It is native to Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Honduras. The species can grown in a variety of soils and is drought-tolerant. Young plants are used as potted specimens, and may be used as an house plant. Yucca guatemalensis may be subject to a number of pests including scale, Yucca moth borers, and black weevils. Plants are subject to root rot if overwatered. Leaf spot may affect leaf appearance, but does not otherwise health of the plant. Propagation is by suckers, cuttings or seed.

Yucca pallida, sometimes called Pale yucca, is a species of yucca native to parts of the blackland prairies of northern and central Texas, and notable for its light-colored leaves that range from a pale blue-gray to sage-green in color.

Yucca recurvifolia is an ornamental plant native to the southeastern United States.

Yucca rostrata, also called Beaked yucca, is a tree-like plant belonging to the Yucca genus native to southern U.S. and northern Mexico. Yucca rostrata grows to 4.5 meters (15 feet) tall. It has thin, stiff leaves which spread from a symmetrical rosette. The inflorescence of small and white flowers appears in autumn.

Yucca schidigera - The Mojave yucca, also known as the Spanish Dagger, is a flowering plant in the family Agavaceae. It is native to the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Desert of southeastern California, Baja California, southern Nevada and western Arizona.
USES: The fibers of the leaves were used by Native Americans to make rope, sandals, and cloth. The flowers and fruit could be eaten and the black seeds were ground into a flour. The roots were used to make soap. Currently extracts from this plant are in animal feed and various herbal medications. Some reports claim that Native Americans washed their hair with yucca to fight dandruff and hair loss. Among the other maladies this yucca has been used to treat are headaches, bleeding, gonorrhea, arthritis and rheumatism. Also used as a natural deodorizor. Used in pet deodorizers.

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Species
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