Yucca harrimaniae Trel.

Spanish bayonet, New Mexico yucca

Linnaeus’ choice of the word Yucca is unclear, since the only existing meaning for the word at the time referred to the unrelated cassava plant, but harrimainiae acknowledges the philanthropic contributions of railroad tycoons Mr. and Mrs. Edward Henry Harriman, who funded expeditions.

Plants: These yuccas are found in groups of one to twenty tufts, each about 12–39″ (30–100 cm) around. The closely similar species Yucca angustissima may be the same as this species, as discussed here.

Leaves: Each tuft consists of stiff, narrow, sharp-pointed leaves about 4–20 ⨉ ¼–½″ (10–50 cm ⨉ 7–14 mm). Upper leaf sides are usually concave.

Flowers: Flower stalks are up to 2½′ (76 cm) high. Flowers are bell-shaped, white, cream, or greenish white, often tinged with purple, with purplish buds. They have 3 petals and 3 sepals. Flowers are 1½–2 ⨉ ⅝–1¼″ (4–6 ⨉ 1.6–3.5 cm) in size. The lowest flowers open below the leaf tips.

Fruits: Seed pods are cylindrical, 1¼–2″ long ⨉ ½–1″ around (3.5–6 ⨉ 1.5–3 cm).

Habitats: Grassland, sagebrush, pinyon-juniper forest, on desert ridges and hills; 3281–8858′ (1–2.7 km) elevation.

Similar species.

See also the Yucca page for a comparison with other yuccas.

Online References:

References:

 

Yucca harrimaniae description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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