Yucca aloifolia L.
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Authority
Acevedo-Rodríguez, Pedro & collaborators. 1996. Flora of St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 78: 1-581.
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Family
Asparagaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Plant unbranched (1-2 m tall) or branched (to 10 m tall). Leaves many, forming tight spirals; blades 30-75 x (1.8—)2—5 (-7) cm, linear, flat, rigid, thickened, dark green, with a sharp, cylindrical, brown or blackish spine at apex, the margins entire to minutely denticulate. inflorescence a large, terminal panicle borne just above the leaves, 20-70 cm long. Flowers numerous; perianth creamy-white, sometimes tinged with green or purple towards base, fleshy, 3-5.8 cm long; ovary short-stipitate. Fruit an indehiscent capsule, oblong-ellipsoid, 3.8-6(-8) x 1.7-2.5(-4) cm, blackish, with dark purple pulp, the papery core wanting. Seeds round or oval, flattened, 5-6 x 6-7 mm, black and shiny.
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Discussion
Yucca guatemalensis sensu Woodbury & Weaver, 1987, non Baker, 1872.
Common names: Spanish bayonet, Spanish dagger.
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Distribution
Introduced, commonly planted along roadsides, becoming naturalized in open, disturbed areas. Emmaus (A2008). Also in the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, West Indies.
West Indies| Central America| Saint John Virgin Islands of the United States South America| México Mexico North America| United States of America North America|