View source for Yucca

{{Treatment/ID
|accepted_name=Yucca
|accepted_authority=Linnaeus
|publications={{Treatment/Publication
|title=Sp. Pl.
|place=1: 319. 1753
|year=1753
}}, {{Treatment/Publication
|title=Gen. Pl. ed.
|place=5, 150. 1754
|year=1754
}}
|common_names=Spanish-bayonet
|basionyms=
|synonyms={{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Clistoyucca
|authority=(Engelmann) Trelease
|rank=genus
}} {{Treatment/ID/Synonym
|name=Samuela
|authority=Trelease
|rank=genus
}}
|hierarchy=Agavaceae;Yucca
|hierarchy_nav=<div class="higher-taxa"><div class="higher-taxon"><small>family</small>[[Agavaceae]]</div><div class="higher-taxon"><small>genus</small>[[Yucca]]</div></div>
|etymology=Carib Indian name for Manihot, erroneously applied
|volume=Volume 26
|mention_page=page 413, 414, 424, 437, 440
|treatment_page=page 423
}}<!--

--><span class="statement" id="st-d0_s0" data-properties="whole_organism duration;whole_organism architecture;whole_organism architecture;whole_organism architecture;whole_organism architecture;whole_organism location;whole_organism location;whole_organism growth form;stem quantity"><b>Plants </b>perennial, acaulescent or caulescent, sometimes subscapose, sometimes arborescent, usually branching extensively, from woody, subterranean or aboveground caudices, or single stems.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s1" data-properties="leaf architecture"><b>Leaves </b>sessile, in rosettes on caudices or at branch ends;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s2" data-properties="blade size;blade texture;blade texture;margin shape;margin shape;margin architecture;margin arrangement;margin texture;fiber length;apex shape">blade linearlanceolate, expanded basally, usually rigid, occasionally fleshy, margins entire or denticulate, often filiferous and separating into elongated fibers, corneous, apex mostly sharp-pointed.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s3" data-properties="scape diameter"><b>Scape,</b> when present, usually less than 2.5 cm diam.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s4" data-properties="inflorescence orientation;inflorescence orientation;inflorescence arrangement;inflorescence arrangement;inflorescence arrangement;inflorescence arrangement;inflorescence architecture;inflorescence pubescence"><b>Inflorescences </b>erect or rarely pendent, paniculate or racemose, sometimes paniculate proximally and racemose distally, bracteate, occasionally pubescent;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s5" data-properties="bract orientation;bract orientation;bract orientation;bract orientation;bract orientation">bracts ascending, erect, or rarely reflexed;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s6" data-properties="peduncle architecture or shape;peduncle pubescence">peduncle sometimes scapelike, sometimes extending beyond leaves, sometimes pubescent.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s7" data-properties="flower reproduction"><b>Flowers </b>bisexual;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s8" data-properties="perianth shape;perianth shape">perianth campanulate or globose;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s9" data-properties="tepal quantity;tepal texture;tepal fusion;tepal coloration;tepal pubescence">tepals 6, similar, fleshy, distinct to or connate at base, whitish to cream or tinged slightly with green or purple, occasionally pubescent;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s10" data-properties="stamen quantity">stamens 6;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s11" data-properties="filament shape;filament architecture or pubescence or relief;filament relief;filament pubescence or relief or texture;filament texture">filaments flattened, as wide as anthers, smooth, papillose, or granular, fleshy;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s12" data-properties="pistil shape;pistil shape">pistil obovoid or oblong-cylindrical;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s13" data-properties="ovary position;ovary coloration;ovary architecture or structure in adjective form;ovary architecture or structure in adjective form;ovary shape">ovary superior, usually green, 3-locular or 6-locular with false septa, 6-lobed;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s14" data-properties="style coloration;style width">style white to dark green, often thick;</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s15" data-properties="stigma quantity;stigma quantity;stigma architecture or shape;stigma coloration;stigma some measurement">stigmas usually 3, sometimes 1 and subcapitate, white to pale green, 1–2 mm.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s16" data-properties="fruit orientation;fruit orientation;fruit architecture;fruit architecture"><b>Fruits </b>erect or pendent, capsular or baccate.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s17" data-properties=""><b>Seeds </b>many per locule, usually black, occasionally gray, flattened, round, rarely obovate or ovate.</span> <span class="statement" id="st-d0_s18" data-properties="seed quantity;seed coloration;seed coloration;seed shape;seed shape;seed shape;seed shape;x chromosome quantity;x chromosome quantity">x = 25, 30.</span><!--

-->{{Treatment/Body
|distribution=e coastal plain;se;sc;w United States;n;c;w Mexico;n Central America
|discussion=<p>Species ca. 35–40 (28 in the flora).</p><!--
--><p>W. Trelease (1902) recognized Hesperoyucca, Clistoyucca, and Samuela as segregates from, but closely related to, Yucca. S. D. McKelvey (1938–1947) returned them to Yucca, recognizing sections Hesperoyucca and Clistoyucca, and placing Samuela in section Sarcocarpa. However, McKelvey indicated that there is ample justification for recognizing Hesperoyucca at genus level, “since a number of flower and fruit characters differ from those in all other sections.” Recent DNA evidence provides strong support for separate recognition of Hesperoyucca (M. A. Hanson 1993; D. J. Bogler 1994; D. J. Bogler and B. B. Simpson 1995, 1996; K. H. Clary 1997). Clary’s data indicate that it is more closely related to Hesperaloe than to Yucca, and that Clistoyucca and Samuela should be retained in Yucca.</p><!--
--><p>Yuccas are often cultivated in many places in the United States, particularly in the south. They are not easily identified, particularly in herbarium specimens, and collectors should be certain to record information about the habits and sizes of plants, and the colors of ovaries, styles, and stigmas. If possible, field photographs of the pistil and stamens should accompany the specimens.</p>
|tables=
|references=
}}<!--

--><div class="treatment-key">
==Key==
<div class="treatment-key-group">
  
{| class="wikitable fna-keytable"
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Fruits indehiscent, pendent or occasionally erect.
|[[#key-0-2| > 2]]
|-id=key-0-1
|1
|Fruits dehiscent, erect.
|[[#key-0-9| > 9]]
|-id=key-0-2
|2
|Fruits dry and spongy or leathery.
|[[#key-0-3| > 3]]
|-id=key-0-2
|2
|Fruits fleshy and succulent.
|[[#key-0-4| > 4]]
|-id=key-0-3
|3
|Leaf blade 15–35 × 0.7–1.5 cm, rigid; fruits 6–8.5 cm; sw United States.
|[[Yucca brevifolia|Yucca brevifolia]]
|-id=key-0-3
|3
|Leaf blade 40–100 × 3.5–6 cm, rigid or flexible; fruits 2.5–8 cm; se United States.
|[[Yucca gloriosa|Yucca gloriosa]]
|-id=key-0-4
|4
|Tepals connate basally for 1 mm or more; pistil 2.8–8 cm.
|[[#key-0-5| > 5]]
|-id=key-0-4
|4
|Tepals distinct, or connate basally for less than 1 mm; pistil 1.5–4 cm.
|[[#key-0-6| > 6]]
|-id=key-0-5
|5
|Mature plants taller than 2.5 m; tepals 3.9–10.8 cm.
|[[Yucca faxoniana|Yucca faxoniana]]
|-id=key-0-5
|5
|Mature plants shorter than 2.5 m; tepals 4.5–13 cm.
|[[Yucca baccata|Yucca baccata]]
|-id=key-0-6
|6
|Leaf blade thin, flexible, margins entire or occasionally filiferous with slender fibers.
|[[Yucca madrensis|Yucca madrensis]]
|-id=key-0-6
|6
|Leaf blade thick, rigid, margins entire, denticulate, or filiferous with slender or coarse fibers.
|[[#key-0-7| > 7]]
|-id=key-0-7
|7
|Leaf margins sharply denticulate or entire, rarely filiferous with slender fibers.
|[[Yucca aloifolia|Yucca aloifolia]]
|-id=key-0-7
|7
|Leaf margins entire, filiferous with coarse fibers.
|[[#key-0-8| > 8]]
|-id=key-0-8
|8
|Style 2–8 mm.
|[[Yucca treculeana|Yucca treculeana]]
|-id=key-0-8
|8
|Style 1–2 mm.
|[[Yucca schidigera|Yucca schidigera]]
|-id=key-0-9
|9
|Leaf margins entire or often denticulate, sometimes wavy, lemon yellow to orangish red or reddish brown; pistil 2.5–4.5 cm.
|[[#key-0-10| > 10]]
|-id=key-0-9
|9
|Leaf margins entire, filiferous or becoming so, not wavy, whitish to gray, light green, or light brown; pistil 1.5–3.8 cm.
|[[#key-0-14| > 14]]
|-id=key-0-10
|10
|Mature plants caulescent; rosettes each with more than 100 leaves.
|[[#key-0-11| > 11]]
|-id=key-0-10
|10
|Mature plants acaulescent, usually forming colonies; rosettes each with fewer than 100 leaves.
|[[#key-0-12| > 12]]
|-id=key-0-11
|11
|Mature plants 2.5–3.6 m, not including inflorescence; leaf blade 25–60 × 1.2–1.7 cm, widest considerably above middle, smooth.
|[[Yucca rostrata|Yucca rostrata]]
|-id=key-0-11
|11
|Mature plants 0.7–2.5 m, not including inflorescence; leaf blade 20–30(–45) × 0.7–1.2 cm, widest at or above middle, ± scabrous.
|[[Yucca thompsoniana|Yucca thompsoniana]]
|-id=key-0-12
|12
|Plants in colonies of 10–30 rosettes each; mature leaf blade straight, flat except becoming concave near apex, glaucous, margins wavy, yellow; inflorescences with wide-spreading branchlets.
|[[Yucca pallida|Yucca pallida]]
|-id=key-0-12
|12
|Plants in open colonies of 2–15 rosettes each, or sometimes solitary; leaf blade flattened or twisted and concave, glaucous or not, margins yellow, dark orange, or reddish brown; inflorescences narrowly ovoid.
|[[#key-0-13| > 13]]
|-id=key-0-13
|13
|Mature leaf blade twisted, strongly concave, 1.7–4 cm at greatest width, flexible, margins orange or reddish brown.
|[[Yucca rupicola|Yucca rupicola]]
|-id=key-0-13
|13
|Mature leaf blade straight, slightly concave, 1–2(–2.5) cm at greatest width, rigid, margins yellow or reddish brown.
|[[Yucca reverchonii|Yucca reverchonii]]
|-id=key-0-14
|14
|Mature plants caulescent, arborescent, with thick stems 0.6–2.5 m, rarely acaulescent; rosettes usually large.
|[[#key-0-15| > 15]]
|-id=key-0-14
|14
|Mature plants acaulescent or occasionally caulescent with stems to 1 (rarely –2) m, sometimes indistinctly arborescent; rosettes usually small.
|[[#key-0-16| > 16]]
|-id=key-0-15
|15
|Mature plants distinctly arborescent, solitary or forming small colonies; stems 1–7 per colony, erect, 1–2.5 m.
|[[Yucca elata|Yucca elata]]
|-id=key-0-15
|15
|Mature plants not distinctly arborescent, forming large colonies; stems usually 7 or more per colony, often procumbent, 0.6–1.3 m.
|[[Yucca utahensis|Yucca utahensis]]
|-id=key-0-16
|16
|Leaf blade usually soft and limp, rarely erect and rigid, 1–5 cm wide, proximal leaves often becoming reflexed; inflorescences paniculate.
|[[#key-0-17| > 17]]
|-id=key-0-16
|16
|Leaf blade rigid or sometimes flexible, including proximal leaves, usually less than 2 cm wide, or if wider, then inflorescences racemose and partially held within rosettes; inflorescences racemose or paniculate.
|[[#key-0-19| > 19]]
|-id=key-0-17
|17
|Tepals 5–7 cm; inflorescences glabrous.
|[[Yucca filamentosa|Yucca filamentosa]]
|-id=key-0-17
|17
|Tepals 3–5 cm; inflorescences pubescent or glabrous.
|[[#key-0-18| > 18]]
|-id=key-0-18
|18
|Inflorescences pubescent.
|[[Yucca flaccida|Yucca flaccida]]
|-id=key-0-18
|18
|Inflorescences glabrous.
|[[Yucca necopina|Yucca necopina]]
|-id=key-0-19
|19
|Inflorescences paniculate (and racemose distally in Y. constricta); leaf blade plano-convex or sometimes plano-keeled.
|[[#key-0-20| > 20]]
|-id=key-0-19
|19
|Inflorescences primarily racemose, occasionally paniculate proximally; leaf blade concave or concavo-convex, except for those less than 0.9 cm wide, then plano-convex or plano-keeled.
|[[#key-0-22| > 22]]
|-id=key-0-20
|20
|Distance from leaf tips to proximal inflorescence branches less than twice leaf length when fully expanded; peduncle 0.5–1 m; leaf blade 0.3–0.7(–1.5) cm wide.
|[[Yucca campestris|Yucca campestris]]
|-id=key-0-20
|20
|Distance from leaf tips to proximal inflorescence branches more than twice leaf length when fully expanded; peduncle 1–2 m; leaf blade (0.3–)0.7–2 cm wide.
|[[#key-0-21| > 21]]
|-id=key-0-21
|21
|Capsules not constricted; leaf blade mostly recurving, 1–2 cm wide.
|[[Yucca tenuistyla|Yucca tenuistyla]]
|-id=key-0-21
|21
|Capsules deeply constricted near middle; leaf blade mostly linear, (0.3–)0.7–1.5 cm wide.
|[[Yucca constricta|Yucca constricta]]
|-id=key-0-22
|22
|Peduncle (0.1–)0.3–2.5 m; inflorescences arising well beyond rosettes.
|[[#key-0-23| > 23]]
|-id=key-0-22
|22
|Peduncle 0.1–0.6 m; inflorescences arising within or just beyond rosettes.
|[[#key-0-24| > 24]]
|-id=key-0-23
|23
|Leaf blade usually linear, 20–80 (–150) cm, not glaucous; inflorescences (4–)8–20 dm.
|[[Yucca angustissima|Yucca angustissima]]
|-id=key-0-23
|23
|Leaf blade spatulate-lanceolate, 15–46 cm, rather glaucous; inflorescences 4–7 dm.
|[[Yucca neomexicana|Yucca neomexicana]]
|-id=key-0-24
|24
|Capsules 3–5.5(–7) × 2–3 cm.
|[[#key-0-25| > 25]]
|-id=key-0-24
|24
|Capsules (3–)5–7(–9) cm × 2–4(–5) cm.
|[[#key-0-27| > 27]]
|-id=key-0-25
|25
|Peduncle shorter than 0.2 m.
|[[Yucca harrimaniae|Yucca harrimaniae]]
|-id=key-0-25
|25
|Peduncle (0.1–)0.2 m or longer.
|[[#key-0-26| > 26]]
|-id=key-0-26
|26
|Style pale green or rarely white; Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma panhandle.
|[[Yucca neomexicana|Yucca neomexicana]]
|-id=key-0-26
|26
|Style dark green; Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas.
|[[Yucca arkansana|Yucca arkansana]]
|-id=key-0-27
|27
|Leaf blade 0.7–4.3 cm wide.
|[[#key-0-28| > 28]]
|-id=key-0-27
|27
|Leaf blade 0.5–2(–2.5) cm wide.
|[[#key-0-29| > 29]]
|-id=key-0-28
|28
|Style pale to bright green; leaf blade 1.8–4.3 cm wide; Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah.
|[[Yucca harrimaniae|Yucca harrimaniae]]
|-id=key-0-28
|28
|Style dark green; leaf blade 0.7–2.5 cm wide; Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas.
|[[Yucca arkansana|Yucca arkansana]]
|-id=key-0-29
|29
|Style dark green.
|[[#key-0-30| > 30]]
|-id=key-0-29
|29
|Style white or pale yellowish green.
|[[#key-0-31| > 31]]
|-id=key-0-30
|30
|Inflorescences 5–10 dm; leaf blade 0.8–1.2 cm wide, rigid.
|[[Yucca glauca|Yucca glauca]]
|-id=key-0-30
|30
|Inflorescences 3–6(–8) dm; leaf blade 0.7–2(–2.5) cm wide, flexible.
|[[Yucca arkansana|Yucca arkansana]]
|-id=key-0-31
|31
|Inflorescences 2.5–4.5(–8.5) dm; peduncle shorter than 0.2 m.
|[[Yucca baileyi|Yucca baileyi]]
|-id=key-0-31
|31
|Inflorescences (5–)7–13 dm; peduncle 0.1–0.5 m.
|[[Yucca intermedia|Yucca intermedia]]
|}
</div></div><!--

-->{{#Taxon:
name=Yucca
|author=William J. Hess;R. Laurie Robbins
|authority=Linnaeus
|rank=genus
|parent rank=family
|synonyms=Clistoyucca;Samuela
|basionyms=
|family=Agavaceae
|distribution=e coastal plain;se;sc;w United States;n;c;w Mexico;n Central America
|reference=None
|publication title=Sp. Pl.;Gen. Pl. ed.
|publication year=1753;1754
|special status=
|source xml=https://bibilujan@bitbucket.org/aafc-mbb/fna-fine-grained-xml.git/src/84153f6d59a0a91d69695978a64cee7560374f8e/V26/V26_870.xml
|genus=Yucca
|apex shape=sharp-pointed
|blade size=expanded
|blade texture=fleshy;rigid
|bract orientation=reflexed;erect;reflexed;erect;ascending
|fiber length=elongated
|filament architecture or pubescence or relief=smooth
|filament pubescence or relief or texture=granular
|filament relief=papillose
|filament shape=flattened
|filament texture=fleshy
|flower reproduction=bisexual
|fruit architecture=baccate;capsular
|fruit orientation=pendent;erect
|inflorescence architecture=bracteate
|inflorescence arrangement=racemose;paniculate;racemose;paniculate
|inflorescence orientation=pendent;erect
|inflorescence pubescence=pubescent
|leaf architecture=sessile
|margin architecture=filiferous
|margin arrangement=separating
|margin shape=denticulate;entire
|margin texture=corneous
|ovary architecture or structure in adjective form=6-locular;3-locular
|ovary coloration=green
|ovary position=superior
|ovary shape=6-lobed
|peduncle architecture or shape=scapelike
|peduncle pubescence=pubescent
|perianth shape=globose;campanulate
|pistil shape=oblong-cylindrical;obovoid
|scape diameter=0cm;2.5cm
|seed coloration=gray;black
|seed quantity=many
|seed shape=ovate;obovate;round;flattened
|stamen quantity=6
|stem quantity=single
|stigma architecture or shape=subcapitate
|stigma coloration=white;pale green
|stigma quantity=1;3
|stigma some measurement=1mm;2mm
|style coloration=white;dark green
|style width=thick
|tepal coloration=whitish;cream or tinged slightly with green or tinged slightly with purple
|tepal fusion=distinct;or connate
|tepal pubescence=pubescent
|tepal quantity=6
|tepal texture=fleshy
|whole_organism architecture=branching;subscapose;caulescent;acaulescent
|whole_organism duration=perennial
|whole_organism growth form=plant
|whole_organism location=aboveground;subterranean
|x chromosome quantity=30;25
}}<!--

-->[[Category:Treatment]][[Category:Agavaceae]]