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Yucca baccata Torr.

Blue yucca, banana yucca

KingdomPlantaePlants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
SubkingdomTracheobiontaVascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
DivisionMagnoliophytaFlowering plants, also known as angiosperms
ClassLiliopsidaMonocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
SubclassLiliidaeIncludes lilies, orchids, and many others
OrderAsparagalesA diverse group that includes asparagus
FamilyAsparagaceaeAgaves, asparagus, hyacinths, and others
GenusYuccaLinnaeus mistakenly derived the genus name from the Carib word for (similar-appearing) cassava, yuca
Speciesbaccata“Fruited”

About plant names...

The name “banana yucca” refers to this yucca’s large fruits. The species name baccata means “fruited” as well.

Identification: Banana yuccas have large, stiff leaves 1-3′ (30-101 cm) long × 1-2″ (2.5-5 cm) wide. Leaves are blue-green, emerging from a common base, narrow and pointed, like an oversized clump of grass. The central flowering stalk, which is often elevated well above the cluster of leaves in other yuccas, may be within or barely above the leaves in this species, about 3-5′ (1-1.5 m) high. Flowers are cream-colored, and copious, 1½-3½″ (3.8-8.9 cm) long, hanging downward like inverted urns.

See the Yucca page for a comparison with other yuccas.

Edibility: The Paiutes—native Americans who inhabited portions of the southwestern United States—dried the relatively large fruits for winter use. After removing fiber and seeds, fruits can also be baked and eaten.

Online References:

DesertUSA: Exploring the Southwest

Desert-tropicals.com

The USDA Forest Service's Fire Effects Information Database

Cals.arizona.edu

Wikipedia

References:

Irish, Mary & Irish, Gary, Agaves, Yuccas and Related Plants: A Gardener’s Guide, Timber Press, 2000, p. 236

Peterson, Lee Allen, Peterson Field Guides: Edible Wild Plants of Eastern/Central North America, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1977, p. 170

Yucca baccata (blue yucca, banana yucca)

2/24/2010 · Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, Cali­fornia ID is uncertain

Yucca baccata Torr. var. baccata

Yucca baccata Torr. var. vespertina McKelvey

Yucca confinis McKelvey

Yucca vespertina (McKelvey) S.L. Welsh

 

Yucca baccata description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 27 Oct 2023.

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Yucca baccata (blue yucca, banana yucca)

2/24/2010 · Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, Cali­fornia ID is uncertain

Yucca baccata (blue yucca, banana yucca)

2/24/2010 · San Diego (Quail) Botanic Garden, Encinitas, Cali­fornia

Yucca baccata (blue yucca, banana yucca)

5/22/2009 · Wupatki National Monument, Ari­zona · ≈ 4½ × 7′ (1.5 × 2.2 m)

Range:

About this map...