Yucca gloriosa
Encyclopedia
Yucca gloriosa is an evergreen
shrub
of the genus Yucca
. Common names include Spanish Dagger, Moundlily Yucca, Soft-tipped Yucca, Spanish Bayonet or Sea Islands Yucca.
Inflorescence paniculate, 0.6-1.5 m tall, partially inferior to the leaves, flowers campanulate to elongate, numerous, pendulous, white, sometimes tinged purple or red, 3.5 cm long, fruits green, when ripe brownish, indehiscent, 5–8 cm long, 2.5 cm wide, obovate, seeds black, thickened.
Yucca gloriosa grows on sand dunes along the coast and barrier island
s of the southeastern USA, often together with Yucca aloifolia
and Yucca recurvifolia
. In contrast to Y. recurvifolia, the leaves of Y. gloriosa are hard stiff, erect and narrower. On the other hand, Y. aloifolia has leaves with denticulate margins and a sharp-pointed, terminal spine. The flowering period is the end of summer and autumn whereas Y. recurvifolia blooms in spring.
In collections in Europe and overseas, there are many forms and hybrids (Sprenger, Förster) from the 18th and 19th centuries. The following names have been used for material of uncertain origin in the European garden flora.
The plant is known to grow to heights above 5 m (16 feet).
s of southeastern North America, growing on sand dunes. It ranges from southern North Carolina
south to northern Florida
. It is associated with Yucca filamentosa
, Yucca aloifolia
, and Opuntia
species.
and is sold internationally. In a domestic environment
, the plant has average water requirements, and little maintenance is needed other than the removal of dead leaves when the shrub nears its ultimate height. The plant is very hardy, no leaf damage at −20 degree Celsius (−5 °F), also it is very robust and can handle a lot of snow and prolonged freeze.
reaction
s upon contact. The leaf points are even sharp enough to break the skin.
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
shrub
Shrub
A shrub or bush is distinguished from a tree by its multiple stems and shorter height, usually under 5–6 m tall. A large number of plants may become either shrubs or trees, depending on the growing conditions they experience...
of the genus Yucca
Yucca
Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40-50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers. They are native to the hot and dry parts of North...
. Common names include Spanish Dagger, Moundlily Yucca, Soft-tipped Yucca, Spanish Bayonet or Sea Islands Yucca.
Description
Caulescent, 0.5-2.5 m tall, usually with several stems from the base, base thickened in adult specimens, branched above, rhizomatous, leaves straight, very stiff, 0.3-0.5 m long, 2-3.5 cm wide, dark green, light grey-green, margins entire, smooth, rarely fine denticulate, acuminate, with a sharp, brown, terminal spine, underside smooth.Inflorescence paniculate, 0.6-1.5 m tall, partially inferior to the leaves, flowers campanulate to elongate, numerous, pendulous, white, sometimes tinged purple or red, 3.5 cm long, fruits green, when ripe brownish, indehiscent, 5–8 cm long, 2.5 cm wide, obovate, seeds black, thickened.
Yucca gloriosa grows on sand dunes along the coast and barrier island
Barrier island
Barrier islands, a coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen...
s of the southeastern USA, often together with Yucca aloifolia
Yucca
Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40-50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers. They are native to the hot and dry parts of North...
and Yucca recurvifolia
Yucca recurvifolia
Yucca recurvifolia is an ornamental plant native to the southeastern United States....
. In contrast to Y. recurvifolia, the leaves of Y. gloriosa are hard stiff, erect and narrower. On the other hand, Y. aloifolia has leaves with denticulate margins and a sharp-pointed, terminal spine. The flowering period is the end of summer and autumn whereas Y. recurvifolia blooms in spring.
In collections in Europe and overseas, there are many forms and hybrids (Sprenger, Förster) from the 18th and 19th centuries. The following names have been used for material of uncertain origin in the European garden flora.
- Yucca gloriosa var. minor Carr.
- Yucca gloriosa var. obliqua Baker
- Yucca gloriosa f. obliqua (Harworth)Voss
- Yucca gloriosa f. acuminata (Sweet)Voss
- Yucca gloriosa f. pruinosa (Baker)Voss
- Yucca gloriosa f. tortulata (Baker)Voss
- Yucca gloriosa' var. medio-striata Planchon
- Yucca gloriosa var. robusta Carr.
- Yucca gloriosa var. nobilis Carr.
- Yucca gloriosa f. planifolia Engelmann
- Yucca gloriosa var. plicata Engelmann
- Yucca gloriosa var. genuina Engelmann
- Yucca gloriosa var. flexilis Trelease
- Yucca gloriosa var. plicata Carr.
- Yucca gloriosa var. superba Baker
- Yucca gloriosa var. longifolia Carr.
- Yucca gloriosa var. muculata Carr.
- Yucca pendula Sieber ex Carr.
- Yucca pattens Andre
- Yucca pruinosa Baker
The plant is known to grow to heights above 5 m (16 feet).
Distribution
Yucca gloriosa is native to the coast and barrier islandBarrier island
Barrier islands, a coastal landform and a type of barrier system, are relatively narrow strips of sand that parallel the mainland coast. They usually occur in chains, consisting of anything from a few islands to more than a dozen...
s of southeastern North America, growing on sand dunes. It ranges from southern North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
south to northern Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It is associated with Yucca filamentosa
Yucca filamentosa
Yucca filamentosa, commonly known as Adam's needle, is a medicinal plant native to eastern North America.Usually trunkless, Yucca filamentosa is a multisuckering plant with heads of 30 inch long, filamentous, blue green strappy leaves. The plant is fully hardy...
, Yucca aloifolia
Yucca
Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae, subfamily Agavoideae. Its 40-50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen, tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers. They are native to the hot and dry parts of North...
, and Opuntia
Opuntia
Opuntia, also known as nopales or paddle cactus , is a genus in the cactus family, Cactaceae.Currently, only prickly pears are included in this genus of about 200 species distributed throughout most of the Americas. Chollas are now separated into the genus Cylindropuntia, which some still consider...
species.
Cultivation
The plant is known to thrive as a domestic plantOrnamental plant
Ornamental plants are plants that are grown for decorative purposes in gardens and landscape design projects, as house plants, for cut flowers and specimen display...
and is sold internationally. In a domestic environment
Natural environment
The natural environment encompasses all living and non-living things occurring naturally on Earth or some region thereof. It is an environment that encompasses the interaction of all living species....
, the plant has average water requirements, and little maintenance is needed other than the removal of dead leaves when the shrub nears its ultimate height. The plant is very hardy, no leaf damage at −20 degree Celsius (−5 °F), also it is very robust and can handle a lot of snow and prolonged freeze.
Properties
The Spanish Dagger has been known to cause skin irritation and even allergicAllergy
An Allergy is a hypersensitivity disorder of the immune system. Allergic reactions occur when a person's immune system reacts to normally harmless substances in the environment. A substance that causes a reaction is called an allergen. These reactions are acquired, predictable, and rapid...
reaction
Adverse drug reaction
An adverse drug reaction is an expression that describes harm associated with the use of given medications at a normal dosage. ADRs may occur following a single dose or prolonged administration of a drug or result from the combination of two or more drugs...
s upon contact. The leaf points are even sharp enough to break the skin.
External links
- http://yuccaagavaceae.com/ygloriosa.html
- http://yuccaagavaceae.com/photos/details.php?image_id=82 Original Erstbeschreibung
- USDA Plants Profile: Yucca gloriosa
- Yucca plant care