Mojave yucca

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mojave Yucca
• Mohave yucca
• Spanish Bayonet

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Sarcoyucca mohavensis
• Yucca mohavensis

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta, falling under the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae. Within the order Asparagales and the family Asparagaceae, it is classified under the genus Yucca. Specifically, its scientific name is Yucca schidigera.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed across the arid regions of the Southwestern United States. Within this American territory, it can be found growing in the state of Arizona. Its natural range also extends through the landscapes of California and Nevada. Moving south of the border, the species is also located in Mexico. Specifically, it inhabits the Northwest region of Mexico.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Yucca schidigera is characterized by its long-lived nature as a perennial species, allowing it to persist in arid environments through multiple growing seasons. In terms of its structural growth and ecological positioning, the plant exhibits complex life form traits; it functions as a phanerophyte, characterized by its prominent, visible woody structure and elevated stems, while also displaying characteristics of a nanophanerophyte due to its specialized growth habits and compact structural elements. This combination of a perennial lifecycle and its specific life form classifications enables the plant to maintain stability and reproductive capability within its native desert habitats.

Life form :

nanophanerophyte

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Yucca schidigera is characterized by a woody growth form that allows it to function as both a tree and a forb depending on developmental stage and environmental conditions. This species is a self-supporting, non-climbing plant that exhibits a terrestrial habit, existing as an independent organism rather than a parasite or epiphyte. It can reach a significant stature, with a mean plant height of approximately 6.1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height mean:

6.1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Yucca schidigera is characterized by specialized adaptations to arid environments, most notably its specific carbon fixation strategy. The plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the enzyme RuBisCO during the day. To mitigate the physiological stress of water loss associated with C3 metabolism in desert climates, the plant employs significant morphological and metabolic adaptations, such as thick, succulent leaves with a reduced surface-area-to-volume ratio and a heavy waxy cuticle to minimize transpiration. Its physiological processes are tightly regulated by water availability, where the plant manages stomatal conductance to balance the intake of CO2 for photosynthesis against the necessity of preventing desiccation. This metabolic framework, while standard for C3 plants, is integrated into a robust drought-tolerance mechanism that allows the plant to maintain cellular homeostasis under high thermal and hydric stress.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Yucca schidigera is characterized by specific seed morphological properties that play a crucial role in its dispersal and establishment within its natural habitat. The seeds produced by this species exhibit a measurable range of weights, which is indicative of the biological variation present during the maturation process. On average, the seed mass is approximately 0.144864 g, serving as a central metric for the species' reproductive output. However, individual seeds display significant variance, with the smallest recorded mass reaching a minimum of 0.085 g and the largest specimens reaching a maximum of 0.238 g. This variation in seed mass can influence the plant's ability to colonize new areas, as the weight of the seeds affects their movement through wind or water and their subsequent ability to settle into suitable soil substrates for germination.

Seed mass max:

0.238 g

Seed mass mean:

0.144864 g

Seed mass min:

0.085 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Yucca schidigera has 17 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include resveratrol, SAPONIN, Stilbenes, trans-3,3',5,5'-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxystilbene, BAX.

resveratrol

1. Journal of natural products
2. Journal of inflammation (London, England)
3. Natural product research
4. Platelets

SAPONIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural product research

Stilbenes

1. Journal of inflammation (London, England)
2. Journal of mass spectrometry : JMS

trans-3,3',5,5'-tetrahydroxy-4'-methoxystilbene

1. Journal of natural products
2. Platelets

BAX

1. Theriogenology

Gitogenin

1. Dr. Duke

Markogenin

1. Dr. Duke

Neogitogenin

1. Dr. Duke

Samogenin

1. Dr. Duke

Saponins

1. Journal of inflammation (London, England)

Activities

Yucca schidigera has 12 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antialzheimeran, Antidementia, Antiinflammatory, Antipsoriac, Antipyretic.

Antialzheimeran

1. Dr. Duke

Antidementia

1. Dr. Duke

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke

Antipsoriac

1. Dr. Duke

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke

Antitumor

1. Dr. Duke

COX-2-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Cerebrotonic

1. Dr. Duke

Cyclooxygenase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Fungicide

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Yucca schidigera has 2 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include arthritis, headaches.

Arthritis

1. Natural product research

Headaches

1. Natural product research

Preparations

Yucca schidigera has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include aqueous yucca extract.

Aqueous yucca extract

1. Archives of pharmacal research