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.[7][8][9]
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.[6]
Ecologyedit
These plants fare best in dry, semi-desert conditions. They are very cold-hardy, but need much sunlight.[10]
Subspeciesedit
There are three subordinate taxa are sometimes recognized, although sources differ as to whether these should be considered varieties or subspecies:[6][11]
Yucca elata ssp. elata. Capsules large, 5–8 cm; leaves long, 30–95 cm. Throughout the species' range.
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.[12] 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.[12]
Symbolismedit
Flowers of the genus Yucca are the state flowers of US state of New Mexico.[13] No species name is given in the statute citation,[14] 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.[15]
Referencesedit
^ abHodgson, W.; Salywon, A. (2020). "Yucca elata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020: e.T117423218A117470022. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-2.RLTS.T117423218A117470022.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^"The Plant List: A Working List of All Plant Species".
^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. ISBN3-00-005946-6
^Fritz Hochstätter (Hrsg.): Yucca (Agavaceae). Band 2 Indehiscent-fruited species in the Southwest, Midwest and East of the USA, Selbst Verlag. 2002. ISBN3-00-009008-8
^Fritz Hochstätter (Hrsg.): Yucca (Agavaceae). Band 3 Mexico , Selbst Verlag, 2004. ISBN3-00-013124-8
^ abLittle, Elbert L. (1994) [1980]. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Western Region (Chanticleer Press ed.). Knopf. p. 330. ISBN0394507614.
^"State Flower | Maggie Toulouse Oliver - New Mexico Secretary of State".
yucca, elata, soaptree, redirects, here, australian, plant, alphitonia, excelsa, perennial, plant, with, common, names, that, include, soaptree, soaptree, yucca, soapweed, palmella, native, southwestern, north, america, sonoran, desert, chihuahuan, desert, uni. Soaptree redirects here For the Australian plant see Alphitonia excelsa Yucca elata is a perennial plant with common names that include soaptree soaptree yucca soapweed and palmella 3 4 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 Leon 5 6 Yucca elata is widely distributed although its population appears to be decreasing 1 Yucca elataLarge soaptree yuccaConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade MonocotsOrder AsparagalesFamily AsparagaceaeSubfamily AgavoideaeGenus YuccaSpecies Y elataBinomial nameYucca elataEngelm Natural rangeSynonyms 2 Y angustifolia var elata Engelm Yucca angustifolia var radiosa Engelm Yucca radiosa Engelm Trel Yucca verdiensis McKelvey Contents 1 Description 2 Ecology 3 Subspecies 4 Uses 5 Symbolism 6 References 7 External linksDescription edit nbsp A dry opened seed podThis 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 7 8 9 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 6 Ecology editThese plants fare best in dry semi desert conditions They are very cold hardy but need much sunlight 10 Subspecies editThere are three subordinate taxa are sometimes recognized although sources differ as to whether these should be considered varieties or subspecies 6 11 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 edit nbsp Yucca flowersNative 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 12 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 12 Symbolism editFlowers of the genus Yucca are the state flowers of US state of New Mexico 13 No species name is given in the statute citation 14 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 15 References edit a b Hodgson W Salywon A 2020 Yucca elata IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020 e T117423218A117470022 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2020 2 RLTS T117423218A117470022 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 The Plant List A Working List of All Plant Species Common names of yucca species Yucca elata Germplasm Resources Information Network Agricultural Research Service United States Department of Agriculture Retrieved 21 December 2017 Biota of North America Project Yucca elata a b c Flora of North America Yucca elata Fritz Hochstatter 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 Hochstatter 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 Hochstatter Hrsg Yucca Agavaceae Band 3 Mexico Selbst Verlag 2004 ISBN 3 00 013124 8 Yucca plant care Tropicos Yucca elata a b Little Elbert L 1994 1980 The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees Western Region Chanticleer Press ed Knopf p 330 ISBN 0394507614 State Flower Maggie Toulouse Oliver New Mexico Secretary of State Section 12 3 4 NMSA 1978 lt https nmonesource com nmos nmsa en item 4374 index do b 12 3 4 gt retrieved on 06 12 2021 Blue Book Maggie Toulouse Oliver New Mexico Secretary of State External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Yucca elata nbsp Wikispecies has information related to Yucca elata Die Gattung Yucca Fritz Hochstatter Yucca I 1 Verbreitungskarte I Fritz Hochstatter Blue Planet Biomes entry for the Soaptree yucca Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Yucca elata amp oldid 1181911792, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
