''Yucca angustissima'', the narrowleaf yucca, is a plant in the family
Agavaceae
Agavoideae is a subfamily of monocot flowering plants in the family Asparagaceae, order Asparagales. It has previously been treated as a separate family, Agavaceae. The group includes many well-known desert and dry-zone types, such as the aga ...
, known as the "narrow-leaved
yucca
''Yucca'' is a genus of perennial plant, perennial shrubs and trees in the family (biology), family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40–50 species are notable for their Rosette (botany), rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped Leaf, ...
." It is native to
Arizona
Arizona ( ; nv, Hoozdo Hahoodzo ; ood, Alĭ ṣonak ) is a state in the Southwestern United States. It is the 6th largest and the 14th most populous of the 50 states. Its capital and largest city is Phoenix. Arizona is part of the Fou ...
,
New Mexico
)
, population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano)
, seat = Santa Fe
, LargestCity = Albuquerque
, LargestMetro = Tiguex
, OfficialLang = None
, Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
,
Colorado
Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the wes ...
and
Utah
Utah ( , ) is a state in the Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. Utah is a landlocked U.S. state bordered to its east by Colorado, to its northeast by Wyoming, to its north by Idaho, to its south by Arizona, and to it ...
, but grown elsewhere as an ornamental.
[Flora of North America v 26 p 434.](_blank)
/ref>
''Yucca angustissima'' is a low-lying species forming colonies of basal rosettes up to 3 m (10 feet) in diameter. Leaves are long and thin, up to 150 cm long but rarely more than 2 cm across. Flowers are white to cream or greenish-white, pendant
A pendant is a loose-hanging piece of jewellery, generally attached by a small loop to a necklace, which may be known as a "pendant necklace". A pendant earring is an earring with a piece hanging down. Its name stems from the Latin word ' ...
, borne in racemes
A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...
on stalks up to 2 m (7 feet) tall. Fruit is a dry capsule with black seeds.
''Yucca angustissima'' is relatively abundant, and although it has local threats, its population appears to be stable overall.
Varieties
Numerous varietal names have been proposed, but 4 are currently recognized:
/ref>
# ''Yucca angustissima'' var. ''angustissima''—Arizona, Utah, New Mexico, Colorado
# ''Yucca angustissima'' var. ''avia'' Reveal[Reveal, James Lauritz. 1977. Intermountain Flora; vascular plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. New York vol 6, p 534 ''Yucca angustissima'']—Utah only
# ''Yucca angustissima'' var. ''kanabensis'' (McKelvey) Reveal
References
External links
US Department of Agriculture plants profile ''Yucca angustissima''photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden, type of ''Yucca angustissima'', collected near Picacho Peak, ArizonaDave's Garden, PlantFiles: Narrow-leaved Yucca, ''Yucca angustissima''Gartendatenbank, Gabriele Jesdinsky, Berlin, Palmlilien (''Yucca angustissima'')Sunshine Seeds, Ahlen Germany, ''Yucca angustissima'', Palmlilie, Yucca
{{Taxonbar, from=Q2601580
angustissima
Flora of Arizona
Flora of New Mexico
Flora of Colorado
Flora of Utah
Plants described in 1902
Taxa named by George Engelmann
Garden plants of North America
Drought-tolerant plants