Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Yucca elata Engelmann
(Soaptree Yucca, Palmilla)
Family: Agavaceae
Status: Native
Synonyms:
None
This yucca frequently reaches several meters tall and may have
several branches. The inflorescence is a highly branched panicle on tall
scape. The fruit is a dry, brown capsule with three chambers which are transversely
ridged on the inner surface. There are two poker chip stacks of black seeds in each
of the chambers with a septum between the stacks. Some of the seeds are white, perhaps sterile or just a color variation.
Please click on an image for a larger file.

Yucca elata, photo Russ Kleinman, Silver City, May 19, 2007

Yucca elata, detail of inflorescence, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., CD trail at Jack's Peak, July 9, 2007

Yucca elata, profile at sunset, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., CD trail at Jack's Peak, July 9, 2007

Yucca elata, capsule, photo Russ Kleinman, Black Range, Ancheta Canyon, Dec. 10, 2008

Yucca elata, seeds stacked like poker chips, photo Russ Kleinman, Black Range, Ancheta Canyon, Dec. 10, 2008

Yucca elata, closeup of flower, photo Russ Kleinman, Little Burro Mtns., along US 180N, July 1, 2009

Yucca elata, thick underground root system, photo Russ Kleinman, Ridge Road near Silver City, October 21, 2009

Yucca elata, closeup of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, WD Ranch Road, December 3, 2009

Yucca elata, macro of cross section of leaf, photo Russ Kleinman, WD Ranch Road, December 3, 2009
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