Yucca filamentosa
| Yucca filamentosa | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Y. filamentosa Adam's needle, in bloom | |
Scientific classification  |
|
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| clade: | Angiosperms |
| clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Asparagaceae |
| Subfamily: | Agavoideae |
| Genus: | Yucca |
| Species: | Y. filamentosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Yucca filamentosa L. |
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Yucca filamentosa, commonly known as Adam's needle, is a medicinal plant native to eastern North America.[1]
Usually trunkless, Yucca filamentosa is a multisuckering plant with heads of 30 inch (75 cm) long, filamentous, blue green strappy leaves. The plant is fully hardy. Yucca filamentosa is readily identified from other Yucca species by white threads (filaments) on the leaf margins (see image).[2]
Flower stems up to 10 ft (3 m) tall bear masses of pendulous cream flowers in early summer.[3]
In the wild, Y. filamentosa is native to the southeastern United States, as far west as Louisiana and as far north as Virginia. However, it is widely cultivated and can be found naturalized outside its native range.[3]
Y. filamentosa is closely related to Yucca flaccida and it is possible they should in fact be classified as a single species.[3]
Yuccas are useful garden perennials because they bloom at night (nyctinasty). The creamy-white flowers fill with sap and lift petals to the darkening sky then release a sweet odor (which reminds some viewers as smelling of a toilet soap) that attracts the very small pollinator, the yucca moth.
[edit] Cultivars
- Bright Edge is a dwarf cultivar with yellow-edged foliage and creamy flowers tinged with green.
- Golden Sword is similar to Bright Edge but larger.
- Ivory Tower has creamy white flowers tinged with green.
- Color Guard has broad yellow stripes all year, plus red stripes in the Winter.
[edit] Uses
The leaves, stems and roots of this plant can be used to stun fish.[4]
[edit] References
- ^ Flora, The Gardeners' Bible, ABC Publishing, Sydney, 2005
- ^ The Gardeners' Encyclopaedia of Plants & Flowers, Readers' Digest, Sydney, 1999
- ^ a b c "Yucca filamentosa". Flora of North America. http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=242102062.
- ^ Duffy, Kevin (2004). Harvesting Nature's Bounty, Second Edition. City: Bookman Pub. ISBN 159453294X.
[edit] External links
Media related to Yucca filamentosa at Wikimedia Commons
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