- Soaptree yucca
image_width = 240px
image_caption = Large Soaptree yucca
regnum =Plant ae
divisio = Magnoliophyta
classis =Liliopsida
ordo =Asparagales
familia =Agavaceae
genus = "Yucca "
species = "Y. elata"
binomial = "Yucca elata"
binomial_authority = Engelm.The Soaptree yucca ("Yucca elata") is aperennial plant in the genus "Yucca " in the familyAgavaceae . It is native to southwesternNorth America , in theSonoran Desert andChihuahuan Desert in theUnited States (westernTexas ,New Mexico ,Arizona , and northernMexico (Chihuahua ,Coahuila ,Sonora ).This plant grows from 1.2-4.5 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-shapedflower s 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.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.There are three subspecies:
*"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".These plants fare best in dry, semi-desert conditions. They are very cold-hardy, but need lots of sunlight.
Distribution
In deserts, mostly in sandy soil, in 850-2,000 m altitude, growing together with other members of the genus such as Yucca faxoniana, Yucca baccata, Yucca arizonica, Yucca schottii, Yucca torreyi, various Agaves, as well as Toumeya papyracantha, Sclerocactus parviflorus etc.
ystematic
Section Chaenocarpa. Series GlaucaeThere are tree subspecies:
Yucca elata ssp. elata Representatives material studied: New Mexico, Union Co., fh 1176.1, Carizzo Mts., fh 1178.10, Las Cruzes area, fh 1178.33, Pedernal Mts., fh 1179.84, Arizona, Cottonwood, fh 1178.39. Texas, Del City, fh 1178.29, Alpine area, fh 1179.30, Cornudas, fh 1179.31, Wild Horse Draw, fh 1179.85.Yucca elata ssp. verdiensisRepresentatives material studied: Arizona, Taylor, fh 1179.33, Snowflake, fh 1179.80.Yucca elata ssp. utahensisRepresentatives material studied: Utah, Fort Pearce, fh 1179.49, Santa Clara River, fh 1179.50, Snow Canyon, fh 1181.50. fh: Fieldnumber Fritz Hochstätter.
Cultivation
Yucca elata and subspecies are winterhardy in central Europe. Exemplare can be seen in n Washington and in Canada, British Columbia.
Uses
Native Americans used the fiber of the Soaptree Yucca's leaves to make sandals, belts, cloth, baskets, cords, and mats, among other items. Inside the
trunk androots of the plant is a soapy substance high insaponin s. In the past, this substance was commonly used as a substitute forsoap andshampoo , which was used to treatdandruff andhairloss . At least one tribe, theZuni , used mixture of soap made from yuccasap and groundaster to wash newborn babies to stimulate hair growth. TheApaches also use yucca leaf fibers to makedental floss andrope . [ [Yucca @ B Net http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_g2603/is_0007/ai_2603000747] ] In times of drought ranchers have used the plant as an emergency food supply for theircattle .References
* 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
* [http://www.yuccaagavaceae.com/species.html Common names of yucca species]
* 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.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242102060 Flora of North America: "Yucca elata"]
* [http://www.blueplanetbiomes.org/soaptree.htm Blue Planet Biomes entry for the Soaptree yucca]
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