Yucca elata is a perennial plant, with common names that include soaptree, soaptree yucca, soapweed, and palmella.[ Common names of yucca species][ Biota of North America Project, Yucca elata]
Description
This plant grows from 1.2 to 4.5 m tall, with a sparsely branched trunk. The trunk is brown, cylindrical in shape and has a small diameter and often has holes drilled by escaping
Prodoxidae larvae. The
leaf are arranged in a dense spiral whorl at the apex of the stems, each leaf 25–95 cm long and very slender, 0.2-1.3 cm broad. The white, bell-shaped
grow in a dense cluster on a slender stem at the apex of the stem, each flower 32–57 mm long, creamy white, often tinged pinkish or greenish.
[Fritz Hochstätter (Hrsg.): Yucca (Agavaceae). Band 1 Dehiscent-fruited species in the Southwest and Midwest of the USA, Canada and Baja California , Selbst Verlag, 2000. ][Fritz Hochstätter (Hrsg.): Yucca (Agavaceae). Band 2 Indehiscent-fruited species in the Southwest, Midwest and East of the USA, Selbst Verlag. 2002. ][Fritz Hochstätter (Hrsg.): Yucca (Agavaceae). Band 3 Mexico , Selbst Verlag, 2004. ]
The soaptree yucca's fruit is a capsule 4–8 cm long and 2–4 cm broad, maturing brown in summer, when it splits into three sections to release the black seeds. They do not flower every year.
Ecology
These plants fare best in dry, semi-desert conditions. They are very cold-hardy, but need much sunlight.
[ Yucca plant care]
Subspecies
There are three subordinate taxa are sometimes recognized, although sources differ as to whether these should be considered varieties or subspecies:
[ Flora of North America: Yucca elata][ Tropicos, Yucca elata]
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Yucca elata ssp. elata. Capsules large, 5–8 cm; leaves long, 30–95 cm. Throughout the species' range.
-
Yucca elata ssp. verdiensis. Capsules small, 4-4.5 cm; leaves short, 25–45 cm. Arizona only.
-
Yucca elata ssp. utahensis.
Uses
Native Americans used the fiber of the soaptree yucca's leaves to make sandals, belts, cloth, baskets, cords, and mats, among other items; they also ate the flowers.
Inside the trunk and
of the plant is a soapy substance high in
. In the past, this substance was commonly used as
soap and
shampoo, which was used to treat
dandruff and
hairloss. At least one tribe, the
Zuni people, used a mixture of soap made from yucca
sap and ground aster to wash newborn babies to stimulate hair growth. The
Apaches also use yucca leaf fibers to make
dental floss and
rope. In times of drought ranchers have used the plant as an emergency food supply for their
cattle; the chopped trunk and leaves can be eaten.
[
]
Symbolism
Flowers of the genus Yucca are the state flowers of US state of
retrieved on 06/12/2021. however the New Mexico Centennial Blue Book from 2012 references the soaptree yucca (
Yucca elata) as one of the more widespread species in New Mexico.
External links
