soapweed yucca

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Great Plains yucca
• Spanish-bayonet
• small soapweed
• small soapweed yucca
• soapweed
• soapweed yucca
• Beargrass
• bear-grass
• soapwell
• yucca
• Spanish bayonet

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Yucca glauca var. gurneyi
• Yucca glauca var. stricta
• Yucca stricta
• Yucca glauca subsp. stricta
• Yucca glauca subsp. albertana
• Yucca angustifolia
• Yucca angustifolia f. stricta
• Yucca angustifolia var. stricta
• Yucca glauca rosea
• Yucca glauca f. rosea

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, specifically classified within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. It is further categorized under the order Asparagales and the family Asparagaceae. Finally, it is identified by the genus Yucca, with the specific species being Yucca glauca.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a wide geographical range across several regions of North America. In Western Canada, its presence is specifically noted within the province of Alberta. Moving into the Northwestern United States, it can be found across the states of Colorado, Montana, and Wyoming. Additionally, its distribution extends into the North-Central United States, where it is located in Iowa. Together, these areas define the specific territory where Yucca glauca thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Yucca glauca is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. As a long-lived species, it maintains a stable presence in its habitat, often developing robust underground structures that support its long-term survival. In terms of its structural growth strategy, this species exhibits a chamaphyte life form, meaning its perennating buds are located close to the soil surface, typically just above it. This physiological adaptation enables the plant to withstand environmental stressors and varying climatic conditions by keeping its vital reproductive and vegetative organs protected near the ground level.

Life form :

chamaephyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Yucca glauca is characterized by a compact and non-woody structure, primarily functioning as a herbaceous forb. It typically maintains a modest stature with a mean plant height of approximately 0.3 m. As a self-supporting plant, it does not exhibit climbing tendencies, instead growing in a stable, upright manner. It is an independent species that does not function as a parasite, maintaining a strictly terrestrial life habit rather than acting as an epiphyte.

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

0.3 m

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Yucca glauca is characterized by specialized adaptations to arid and semi-arid environments, primarily defined by its photosynthetic pathway, which follows the C3 mechanism. Despite inhabiting water-limited habitats where CAM or C4 pathways might offer advantages, this species utilizes C3 photosynthesis, necessitating physiological strategies to mitigate transpirational water loss. To compensate for the inherent inefficiencies of C3 metabolism in high-temperature settings, the plant exhibits robust succulent characteristics, particularly within its fleshy, fibrous leaves that serve as vital water storage organs. This hydraulic strategy allows for the maintenance of leaf turgor and metabolic continuity during prolonged dry spells. Furthermore, the plant's physiological resilience is supported by a deep, extensive root system designed for rapid moisture uptake following infrequent precipitation events, alongside a thickened cuticle that limits non-stomatal water loss, ensuring that the carbon fixation processes facilitated by its C3 pathway can proceed under environmental stress.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Yucca glauca is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period and the production of lightweight seeds. The plant's flowering cycle typically begins in June and concludes in July, though the timing can be variable depending on environmental conditions. Following successful pollination, the plant produces seeds that exhibit a relatively small and consistent mass. The mean seed mass is approximately 0.01883375 g, with individual seed weights ranging from a minimum of 0.016 g to a maximum of 0.0229 g.

Flowering time :

Jun

Flowering time :

Jul

Seed mass max:

0.0229 g

Seed mass mean:

0.01883375 g

Seed mass min:

0.016 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Yucca glauca has 2 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include AU-1, YG-1.

AU-1

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

YG-1

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Preparations

Yucca glauca has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include underground parts.

Underground parts

1. Yakugaku zasshi : Journal of the Pharmaceutical Society of Japan