Yucca grandiflora
Gentry
Asparagaceae
Common Name: Sahuiliqui
General Information
Yucca grandiflora is an evergreen, succulent, tree-like perennial plant. It produces a main stem 3 - 4 metres high that branches from the base and also near the top, a rosette of leaves is produced at the end of each stem with indiividual leaves 70 - 100cm long and 4 - 5cm wide[
1840- Title
- A New Yucca from Sonora
- Publication
- Madrono, Vol 14, pp 51-53 1957-1958
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1957
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of fibre.. The leaves are of potential value to the pharmaceutical industry and the plant is used as an ornamental. Yucca grandiflora is cultivated in Tucson, southern Arizona and the fruits ('datilillo') are used for human consumption[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
] (This suggests, but does not specifically state, that the plant is cultivated for its fruit[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].)
Yucca grandiflora is scattered where it occurs, with very low population densities and a low reproduction rate. However, it has a wide distribution range and occurs in some isolated areas of difficult access and relatively secure from disturbance. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
1840- Title
- A New Yucca from Sonora
- Publication
- Madrono, Vol 14, pp 51-53 1957-1958
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1957
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
,
1842- Title
- The Agave Family in Sonora; Agriculture Handbook No. 399
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
- Agicultural Research Service, USDA; Washington D.C.
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Gives quite a lot of information on the traditional uses of the plants.
Range
Southwest N. America - northwest Mexico (Sonora)
Habitat
Gentle slopes and ridges, with volcanic or limestone and calcareous rocks, mixed with oak trees at lower elevations and desert scrub and thorn scrub at higher elevations; at elevations from 600 - 1,500 metres[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
]
Properties
Conservation Status | Least Concern |
Edibility Rating | |
Habit | Evergreen Tree |
Height | 4.00 m |
Pollinators | Moths |
Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
This species has a very slow growth rate, taking 15 - 24 years to reach sexual maturity[
338- Title
- IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.iucnredlist.org/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat.
].
Edible Uses
Fruits - raw or cooked. A sweet flavour eaten raw, they are said by some to be even nicer when roasted[
1842- Title
- The Agave Family in Sonora; Agriculture Handbook No. 399
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
- Agicultural Research Service, USDA; Washington D.C.
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Gives quite a lot of information on the traditional uses of the plants.
].. The large, fleshy fruits can be up to 20cm long and 5cm in diameter. Bitter-tasting when immature, when very ripe they become soft and very sweet in flavour[
1841- Title
- The Warihio Indians of Sonora-Chihuahua; An Ethnographic Survey (Anthropological Papers, No. 65)
- Publication
- Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 186 pp 61-144
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution
- Year
- 1963
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent study
,
1842- Title
- The Agave Family in Sonora; Agriculture Handbook No. 399
- Publication
-
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
- Agicultural Research Service, USDA; Washington D.C.
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Gives quite a lot of information on the traditional uses of the plants.
]. The seeds are fairly large, they are not usually eaten since they contain high concentrations of bitter-tasting sapogenins[
1841- Title
- The Warihio Indians of Sonora-Chihuahua; An Ethnographic Survey (Anthropological Papers, No. 65)
- Publication
- Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 186 pp 61-144
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution
- Year
- 1963
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent study
]
The immature fruits are occasionally consumed[
1839- Title
- Use and Nutritional Composition of some Traditional Mountain Pima Plant Foods
- Publication
- J. Ethnobiol. 11(1):93-114 Summer 1991
- Author
- Laferriere J.E.; Weber C.W. & Kohlhepp E.A.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]. When mature, the fruits are dry and inedible[
1839- Title
- Use and Nutritional Composition of some Traditional Mountain Pima Plant Foods
- Publication
- J. Ethnobiol. 11(1):93-114 Summer 1991
- Author
- Laferriere J.E.; Weber C.W. & Kohlhepp E.A.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1991
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
]. This last comment is probably a mistake, this species is related to Yucca baccata and, like that species has a fleshy-fruit[
K- Title
- Plants for a Future
- Author
- Ken Fern
- Description
- Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Flower petals - cooked like fresh squash[
1841- Title
- The Warihio Indians of Sonora-Chihuahua; An Ethnographic Survey (Anthropological Papers, No. 65)
- Publication
- Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 186 pp 61-144
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution
- Year
- 1963
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent study
]. Rich in vitamins[
1841- Title
- The Warihio Indians of Sonora-Chihuahua; An Ethnographic Survey (Anthropological Papers, No. 65)
- Publication
- Bureau of American Ethnology Bulletin 186 pp 61-144
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution
- Year
- 1963
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An excellent study
]
Medicinal
The leaves contain around 1.4% sapogenins, these are steroidal compounds that are regarded as precursors to cortisone and other related drugs. The fairly high percentage value of sarsasapogenin make this species of potential value to the pharmaceutical industry[
1840- Title
- A New Yucca from Sonora
- Publication
- Madrono, Vol 14, pp 51-53 1957-1958
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1957
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Other Uses
The leaves are a source of fibre[
1840- Title
- A New Yucca from Sonora
- Publication
- Madrono, Vol 14, pp 51-53 1957-1958
- Author
- Gentry H.S.
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 1957
- ISBN
-
- Description
-
].
Propagation
Seed -
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