Common Names: BROAD-LEAF YUCCAS, SPANISH BAYONET, (AMOLE), (DATIL), SOAPWEED Arizona desert. (Yucca arizonica). Creamy. April-May. California desert. (Yucca schidigera). White-purple. March-April. Texas desert. (Yucca torreyi). Creamy. March-April. Lily family. Size: Reaches height of 10 to 15 feet.
Although, in general, the Broad-leafed Yuccas do not reach tree size, the Giant Dagger (Yucca carnerosana) of Big Bend National Park reaches a height of 20 feet. In dense stands or “forests” these Yuccas, with their huge clusters of creamy, wax-like, lightly scented, bell-shaped flowers produce a never-to-be-forgotten display in blooming season.
The Yucca is the state flower of New Mexico.
Yuccas are often confused by newcomers to the desert with three other groups of plants: the Agaves (Century Plant), Dasylirion (Sotol) and Nolinas (Beargrass).
The plate on the opposite page has been devoted to a comparison of the four groups, and by studying it carefully, the characteristics by which each may be identified can be determined.
Yucca leaf fibers have long been used by Indians for fabricating rope, matting, sandals, basketry, and coarse cloth. Indians also ate the buds, flowers, and emerging flower stalks. The large, pulpy fruits were eaten raw or roasted, and the seeds ground into meal.
Roots of the Yuccas have saponifying properties and are still gathered by some tribes and used as soap, especially for washing the hair. Flowers are browsed by livestock. (See [Narrow-leaf Yuccas] and [Joshua-tree]). Yucca baccata, a broad-leaf species found in the Southwest outside of the desert areas, is discussed in “Flowers of the Southwest Mesas.”
CREAM
Common Names: BEARGRASS, BASKETGRASS, (SACAHUISTE) Arizona desert: (Nolina microcarpa). Tan-cream. May-June. California desert: (Nolina parryi). White-cream. May-June. Texas desert: (Nolina erumpens). White-cream. May-June. Lily family. Size: Ragged clumps 4 to 8 feet in diameter and flower stalks up to 8 feet high.