Yucca elata
{{Short description|Species of flowering plant}}
{{Redirect|Soaptree|the Australian plant|Alphitonia excelsa}}
{{Speciesbox
|status = LC
|status_system = IUCN3.1
|name= Yucca elata
|taxon = Yucca elata
|image = Yucca elata blooming.jpg
|image_caption = Large soaptree yucca
|authority = Engelm.
|range_map = Yucca elata range map.jpg
|range_map_caption = Natural range
|synonyms =* Y. angustifolia var. elata Engelm.
- Yucca angustifolia var. radiosa Engelm.
- Yucca radiosa (Engelm.) Trel.
- Yucca verdiensis McKelvey
|synonyms_ref = {{cite web|url=http://www.theplantlist.org/tpl/search?q=yucca+elata|title=The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species}}
}}
Yucca elata is a perennial plant, with common names that include soaptree, soaptree yucca, soapweed, and palmella.[http://www.yuccaagavaceae.com/species.html Common names of yucca species]{{GRIN | access-date = 21 December 2017}} It is native to southwestern North America, in the Sonoran Desert and Chihuahuan Desert in the United States (western Texas, New Mexico, Arizona), southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, and northern Mexico (Chihuahua, Coahuila, Sonora, Nuevo León).[http://bonap.net/MapGallery/County/Yucca%20elata.png Biota of North America Project, Yucca elata] Yucca elata is widely distributed, although its population appears to be decreasing.
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 yucca moth larvae. The leaves 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 flowers 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. {{ISBN|3-00-005946-6}}Fritz Hochstätter (Hrsg.): Yucca (Agavaceae). Band 2 Indehiscent-fruited species in the Southwest, Midwest and East of the USA, Selbst Verlag. 2002. {{ISBN|3-00-009008-8}}Fritz Hochstätter (Hrsg.): Yucca (Agavaceae). Band 3 Mexico , Selbst Verlag, 2004. {{ISBN|3-00-013124-8}}
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. {{clear|left}}
Ecology
These plants fare best in dry, semi-desert conditions. They are very cold-hardy, but need much sunlight.[http://www.yucca-plants.com/index.php 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:[http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242102060 Flora of North America: Yucca elata][http://tropicos.org/Name/18401430?tab=subordinatetaxa Tropicos, Yucca elata]
- 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.{{cite book |last=Little |first=Elbert L. |title=The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Western Region |year=1994 |orig-year=1980 |publisher=Knopf |isbn=0394507614 |edition=Chanticleer Press|page=330}} Inside the trunk and roots of the plant is a soapy substance high in saponins. 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, 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 New Mexico.{{Cite web|url=https://sos.state.nm.us/about-new-mexico/state-flower|title = State Flower | Maggie Toulouse Oliver - New Mexico Secretary of State}} No species name is given in the statute citation,Section 12-3-4 NMSA 1978,
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{Commons}}
{{Wikispecies}}
- Die [http://yuccaagavaceae.com/species.html Gattung Yucca] Fritz Hochstätter
- Yucca I [http://yuccaagavaceae.com/photos/details.php?image_id=88] Verbreitungskarte I Fritz Hochstätter
- [http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/soaptree.htm Blue Planet Biomes entry for the Soaptree yucca]
{{Taxonbar|from=Q200844}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Yucca Elata}}
Category:Flora of the Chihuahuan Desert
Category:Flora of Chihuahua (state)
Category:Plants described in 1882