Yucca gloriosa

Yucca gloriosa, also known as Spanish dagger, mound lily yucca and other common names, is a species of flowering plant in the asparagus family, native to the southeastern United States. Growing to 2.5 m (8 ft), it is an evergreen shrub. It is widely cultivated as an ornamental for its architectural qualities, and has reportedly become established in warmer climates in the wild in various parts of the world.

Description

Yucca gloriosa is caulescent, usually with several stems arising from the base, the base thickening in adult specimens. The long narrow leaves are straight and very stiff, growing to 30–50 cm (12–20 in) long and 2–3.5 cm (3⁄4–1+1⁄2 in) wide. They are dark green with entire margins, smooth, rarely finely denticulate, acuminate, with a sharp brown terminal spine. The inflorescence is a panicle up to 2.5 m (8 ft) long, of bell-shaped white flowers, sometimes tinged purple or red. The fruit is a leathery, elongate berry up to 8 cm (3 in) long.

Taxonomy

Yucca gloriosa was first described by Carl Linnaeus in 1753. Genetic evidence has shown that the species originated via multiple hybridizations between Yucca aloifolia and Yucca filamentosa. It is classified as part of the Yucca genus within the Asparagaceae family.

The species has two accepted varieties:

• Yucca gloriosa var. gloriosa
• Yucca gloriosa var. tristis Carrière

Yucca gloriosa has 85 synonyms of the species or one of its two varieties including 28 species.

Names

In addition to Spanish dagger and mound lily yucca, Yucca gloriosa is also commonly known as Roman candle, palm lily, and Spanish needle. However all of these names are ambiguous, with Roman candle also referring to Senna alata or a trade name for a Podocarpus macrophyllus cultivar, palm lily almost always referring to Cordyline fruticosa or other Cordylines, and Spanish needle also referring to Bidens alba.

In the horticultural trade, Yucca gloriosa var. tristis varieties, with their less rigid leaves, are often referred to as Y. pendula or Y. recurvifolia, and commonly called soft-leaf (or soft-tipped) yucca, weeping yucca, curve-leaf yucca or curved-leaved Spanish-dagger.

Habitat

Yucca gloriosa grows on exposed sand dunes along the coast and barrier islands of the lower East Coast of the United States, often together with Yucca aloifolia and a variety formerly called Yucca recurvifolia or Y. gloriosa var. recurvifolia, now Y. gloriosa var. tristis. Large, endemic populations can be found in the beach and dune environments of coastal North Carolina. In contrast to Y. gloriosa var. tristis, the leaves of Y. gloriosa var. gloriosa are hard stiff, erect and narrower. On the other hand, Y. aloifolia has leaves with denticulate margins and a sharp-pointed, terminal spine.

Distribution

Yucca gloriosa is native to the coast and barrier islands of southeastern North America, growing on sand dunes. It ranges from extreme southeastern Virginia south to northern Florida in the United States. It is associated with Yucca filamentosa, Yucca aloifolia, and Opuntia species.

Cultivation

The plant is widely cultivated in warm temperate and subtropical climates, and valued as an architectural focal point. It has reportedly escaped from cultivation and naturalised in Italy, Turkey, Mauritius, Réunion, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay. In landscape use, little maintenance is needed other than the removal of dead leaves when the shrub nears its ultimate height. The plant is very hardy, without leaf damage at −20 °C (−4 °F), and can handle brief snow and freezing temperatures, as well as long periods of drought.

Yucca gloriosa, and the cultivars 'Variegata' and Bright Star = 'Walbristar' have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.

Properties

Yucca gloriosa has been known to cause skin irritation and even allergic reactions upon contact. The leaf points are even sharp enough to break the skin.

External links

• 2011-07-18 at the Wayback Machine Original Erstbeschreibung