Joshua Tree Yucca Brevifolia Engelm

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Joshua Tree Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Agavaceae Species description Joshua trees are tall, irregular, branched desert yuccas, columnar when young and maturing with open, rounded crowns and wide, spreading branches. The thick branches are tipped with rosettes of dagger-like leaf blades. Joshua tree trunks are fibrous, and may measure 1-3 feet in diameter. The leaves, or blades are dark to blue-green, wider at base and tapering to a sharp point. Flowers are white to cream-colored, elliptoid to globose, and densely packed in erect or rounded clusters borne at the branch tips. The flowers bloom in spontaneous bloom events that may occur between March and May. The fruit is an ellipsoid capsule, green when young, and drying to a light tan color. Each fruit contains 30-50 flattened black seeds. Natural and cultural history Joshua trees are endemic to the Mojave Desert, and their range follows the desert’s boundaries in southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, western Arizona, southeastern California, and the northern Baja California peninsula of Mexico. They grow on dry habitats in desert valleys and hillsides from 3,000-7,000 feet in elevation. Native peoples in the Mojave Desert used Joshua trees for food and fiber. They roasted the flowers, and ate the seeds raw or ground into mash and cooked. The roots were used to make a dye. Planting considerations and propagation techniques Joshua trees usually grow 20-40 feet tall with a canopy diameter of 15-30 feet. They are very spiny, so take care when planting them in public places. They have been known to live for over 150 years. Joshua trees prefer full sun exposure and are frost tolerant to -13º F. The flowers are pollinated by the yucca moth, and must be cross- pollinated to make fruit or viable seed. Joshua tree thrives in any soil, but prefers a sandy loam. The seeds germinate easily and do not need treatment. Sow in spring. Germination may be easier if seeds are soaked 24 hours prior to sowing. Water needs Joshua trees have very low water needs once established. Care Joshua trees require minimal attention once established, though the trees may be shaped for safety and to facilitate site access. Harvesting and processing The flower clusters, before the buds open, can be parboiled in salt to remove bitterness, drained, cooked again and served like cauliflower. The open buds and flowers are rich in sugar, and can be roasted and eaten. The roots may be eaten raw, boiled, or roasted; the roots do contain saponins, which are toxic, but are broken down by prolonged heat, such as oven roasting. Joshua tree seeds are also edible. References and resources Gucker, Corey L. 2006. Yucca brevifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/yucbre/all.html [2017, February 7]. Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center. Native Plants Database (NPIN). 2015. Yucca brevifolia. http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=YUBR Plants for a Future (PFAF). Yucca brevifolia – Engelm. http://www.pfaf.org/USER/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Yucca+brevifolia Useful Tropical Plants. n.d. Yucca brevifolia. http://temperate.theferns.info/plant/Yucca+brevifolia 2 .

Copy Link

Recommended publications

Joshua Tree Species Status Assessment
U.S. FISH & WILDLIFE SERVICE Joshua Tree Species Status Assessment Felicia Sirchia, Scott Hoffmann, and Jennifer Wilkening 10/23/2018 Acknowledgements First and foremost, we would like to thank Tony Mckinney, Carlsbad Fish and Wildlife Office (CFWO) GIS Manager. Tony acquired and summarized data and generated maps for the Species Status Assessment (SSA) – information critical to development of the SSA. Thanks to our Core Team members Jennifer ‘Jena’ Lewinshon, Utah Fish and Wildlife Office, and Brian Wooldridge, Arizona Fish and Wildlife Office. Both these folks were involved early in the SSA development process and provided background on the SSA framework and constructive, helpful feedback on early drafts. Thanks to Bradd Bridges, CFWO Listing and Recovery Chief, and Jenness McBride, Palm Springs Fish and Wildlife Office Division Chief, who provided thorough, helpful comments on early drafts. Thanks to the rest of the Core Team: Arnold Roessler, Region 8, Regional listing Lead; Nancy Ferguson, CFWO; Justin Shoemaker, Region 6; Cheryll Dobson, Region 8 Solicitor; and Jane Hendron, CFWO Public Affairs. All these folks provided constructive, thoughtful comments on drafts of the SSA. Last but not least, we want to thank Wayne Nuckols, CFWO librarian, who provided invaluable research and reference support. Recommended Citation: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 2018. Joshua Tree Status Assessment. Dated October 23, 2018. 113 pp. + Appendices A–C. i Table of Contents Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................................................
[Show full text]
Habitat Selection of the Desert Night Lizard (Xantusia Vigilis) on Mojave Yucca (Yucca Schidigera) in the Mojave Desert, California
Habitat selection of the desert night lizard (Xantusia vigilis) on Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera) in the Mojave Desert, California Kirsten Boylan1, Robert Degen2, Carly Sanchez3, Krista Schmidt4, Chantal Sengsourinho5 University of California, San Diego1, University of California, Merced2, University of California, Santa Cruz3, University of California, Davis4 , University of California, San Diego5 ABSTRACT The Mojave Desert is a massive natural ecosystem that acts as a biodiversity hotspot for hundreds of different species. However, there has been little research into many of the organisms that comprise these ecosystems, one being the desert night lizard (Xantusia vigilis). Our study examined the relationship between the common X. vigilis and the Mojave yucca (Yucca schidigera). We investigated whether X. vigilis exhibits habitat preference for fallen Y. schidigera log microhabitats and what factors make certain log microhabitats more suitable for X. vigilis inhabitation. We found that X. vigilis preferred Y. schidigera logs that were larger in circumference and showed no preference for dead or live clonal stands of Y. schidigera. When invertebrates were present, X. vigilis was approximately 50% more likely to also be present. These results suggest that X. vigilis have preferences for different types of Y. schidigera logs and logs where invertebrates are present. These findings are important as they help in understanding one of the Mojave Desert’s most abundant reptile species and the ecosystems of the Mojave Desert as a whole. INTRODUCTION such as the Mojave Desert in California. Habitat selection is an important The Mojave Desert has extreme factor in the shaping of an ecosystem. temperature fluctuations, ranging from Where an animal chooses to live and below freezing to over 134.6 degrees forage can affect distributions of plants, Fahrenheit (Schoenherr 2017).
[Show full text]
Facilitation of Yucca Brevifolia Recruitment by Mojave Desert Shrubs
UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations 1-1-1998 Facilitation of Yucca brevifolia recruitment by Mojave Desert shrubs Steve B Brittingham University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/rtds Repository Citation Brittingham, Steve B, "Facilitation of Yucca brevifolia recruitment by Mojave Desert shrubs" (1998). UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations. 950. http://dx.doi.org/10.25669/ms22-zauw This Thesis is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Thesis in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/ or on the work itself. This Thesis has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Retrospective Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. INFORMATION TO USERS This manuscript has been reproduced from the microfilm master. UMI films the text directly from the original or copy submitted. Thus, some thesis and dissertation copies are in typewriter free, while others may be from any type of computer printer. The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. Broken or indistinct print, colored or poor quality illustrations and photographs, print bleedthrough, substandard margins, and improper alignment can adversely affect reproduction. In the unlikely event that the author did not send UMI a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted.
[Show full text]
Evaluation of a Petition from the Center for Biological
State of California Natural Resources Agency Department of Fish and Wildlife REPORT TO THE FISH AND GAME COMMISSION EVALUATION OF A PETITION FROM THE CENTER FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY TO LIST WESTERN JOSHUA TREE (YUCCA BREVIFOLIA) AS THREATENED UNDER THE CALIFORNIA ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT Photo of Yucca brevifolia by Jeb McKay Bjerke Prepared by California Department of Fish and Wildlife February 2020 I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ....................................................................................... 2 II. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................... 3 A. Candidacy Evaluation ........................................................................................... 3 B. Petition History ..................................................................................................... 5 C. Overview of Western Joshua Tree Ecology .......................................................... 6 III. SUFFICIENCY OF SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION TO INDICATE THE PETITIONED ACTION FOR WESTERN JOSHUA TREE MAY BE WARRANTED ............................................................................................................................. 7 A. Population Trend .................................................................................................. 8 B. Geographic Range ............................................................................................... 9 C. Distribution.........................................................................................................
[Show full text]
Joshua Tree Yucca Brevifolia
• Common Names Taxonomy – Joshua Tree Kingdom Plantae Yucca Palm plants – Subkingdom Tracheobionta vascular plants – Tree Yucca Division Magnoliophyta angiosperms, flowering plants – Palm Tree Yucca Class Liliopsida monocotyledons – Izote de desierto Subclass Liliidae Order Asparagales Family Asparagaceae Genus Yucca L. • Varieties – Y.b. var. brevifolia Engelm. – Y.b. var. jaegeriana McKelvey Habitat • Southwestern US – Mojave Desert Indicator Species – Between 1,300 and 5,900 ft • Dense Forests – Joshua Tree National Park Hardiness Zones: – Mojave National UDSA – 6-10 Preserve Sunset – 8-24 Characteristics • Grows up to 45 ft. tall – 3 in./yr. (first 10 years), then 1.5 in./yr. • Roots up to 36 ft. from trunk • Fibrous trunk with top-heavy branching • Live up to 1000 years • Leaves – Evergreen, linear, bayonet-shaped – 15-35 cm long, 7-15 wide at base – Sharp tips and white serrate margins – Form dense spirals at ends of stems • Flowers – White and borne on panicles. – Pollinated by Yucca Moth – Dependent on rainfall; need winter freeze • Fruit – Semi-fleshy – Elliptical – Green-brown Threats? • Agave Weevil? • Humans? • Root rot? Uses? • Xeroscaping • Specimen Plant • Food (seeds, flowers) • Sandals • Baskets • Red dye Why I Like the Joshua Tree Sources • http://geotripper.blogspot.com/2010/12/last-christmas-gift-joshua-tree.html • http://www.panoramio.com/photo/1994976 • http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yucca_brevifolia • http://www.sciencephoto.com/media/34337/enlarge • http://dragonflyseye.blogspot.com/2010/04/joshua-trees-in-bloom.html
[Show full text]
Mojave Desert Network Integrated Upland Monitoring 2012 Pilot Study for Joshua Tree National Park
National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Mojave Desert Network Integrated Upland Monitoring 2012 Pilot Study for Joshua Tree National Park Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/MOJN/NRTR—2014/850 ON THE COVER Joshua tree wooded alliance monitoring plot, Joshua Tree National Park Photograph by: Photograph by: Jean J. Pan, NPS Mojave Desert Network Integrated Upland Monitoring 2012 Pilot Study for Joshua Tree National Park Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/MOJN/NRTR—2014/850 Jean J. Pan, Ph.D., Nita Tallent, Ph.D. National Park Service Mojave Desert Network 601 Nevada Highway, Boulder City, NV 89005 March 2014 U.S. Department of the Interior National Park Service Natural Resource Stewardship and Science Fort Collins, Colorado The National Park Service, Natural Resource Stewardship and Science office in Fort Collins, Colorado, publishes a range of reports that address natural resource topics. These reports are of interest and applicability to a broad audience in the National Park Service and others in natural resource management, including scientists, conservation and environmental constituencies, and the public. The Natural Resource Technical Report Series is used to disseminate results of scientific studies in the physical, biological, and social sciences for both the advancement of science and the achievement of the National Park Service mission. The series provides contributors with a forum for displaying comprehensive data that are often deleted from journals because of page limitations. All manuscripts in the series receive the appropriate level of peer review to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and designed and published in a professional manner.
[Show full text]
Petition to List the Western Joshua Tree Under the California Endangered Species
BEFORE THE CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME COMMISSION A Petition to List the Western Joshua Tree (Yucca brevifolia) as Threatened under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA) Center for Biological Diversity October 15, 2019 i Notice of Petition For action pursuant to Section 670.1, Title 14, California Code of Regulations (CCR) and Division 3, Chapter 1.5, Article 2 of the California Fish and Game Code (Sections 2070 et seq.) relating to listing and delisting endangered and threatened species of plants and animals. I. SPECIES BEING PETITIONED: Species Name: Western Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) as either a full species, or as the subspecies Yucca brevifolia brevifolia. II. RECOMMENDED ACTION: Listing as Threatened The Center for Biological Diversity submits this petition to list the western Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) as Threatened pursuant to the California Endangered Species Act (California Fish and Game Code §§ 2050 et seq., “CESA”). The western Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), long recognized as a subspecies or variety (Yucca brevifolia brevifolia), has recently been recognized as a full species distinct from its close relative, the eastern Joshua tree (Yucca jaegeriana). This petition demonstrates that the western Joshua tree is eligible for and warrants listing under CESA based on the factors specified in the statute and implementing regulations. Specifically, the western Joshua tree meets the definition of a “threatened species” since it is “a native species or subspecies of a … plant that, although not presently threatened with extinction, is likely to become an endangered species in the foreseeable future in the absence of the special protection and management efforts . .” Cal.
[Show full text]
TAXON:Yucca Gloriosa L. SCORE:11.0 RATING:High Risk
TAXON: Yucca gloriosa L. SCORE: 11.0 RATING: High Risk Taxon: Yucca gloriosa L. Family: Asparagaceae Common Name(s): palmlilja Synonym(s): Yucca acuminata Sweet Spanish dagger Yucca acutifolia Truff. Yucca ellacombei Baker Yucca ensifolia Groenl. Yucca integerrima Stokes Yucca obliqua Haw. Yucca patens André Yucca plicata (Carrière) K.Koch Yucca plicatilis K.Koch Yucca pruinosa Baker Yucca tortulata Baker Assessor: Chuck Chimera Status: Assessor Approved End Date: 15 Nov 2017 WRA Score: 11.0 Designation: H(HPWRA) Rating: High Risk Keywords: Naturalized, Weedy Succulent, Spine-tipped Leaves, Moth-pollinated Qsn # Question Answer Option Answer 101 Is the species highly domesticated? y=-3, n=0 n 102 Has the species become naturalized where grown? 103 Does the species have weedy races? Species suited to tropical or subtropical climate(s) - If 201 island is primarily wet habitat, then substitute "wet (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) (See Appendix 2) Intermediate tropical" for "tropical or subtropical" 202 Quality of climate match data (0-low; 1-intermediate; 2-high) (See Appendix 2) High 203 Broad climate suitability (environmental versatility) y=1, n=0 y Native or naturalized in regions with tropical or 204 y=1, n=0 y subtropical climates Does the species have a history of repeated introductions 205 y=-2, ?=-1, n=0 y outside its natural range? 301 Naturalized beyond native range y = 1*multiplier (see Appendix 2), n= question 205 y 302 Garden/amenity/disturbance weed n=0, y = 1*multiplier (see Appendix 2) y 303 Agricultural/forestry/horticultural weed n=0, y = 2*multiplier (see Appendix 2) n 304 Environmental weed 305 Congeneric weed n=0, y = 1*multiplier (see Appendix 2) y 401 Produces spines, thorns or burrs y=1, n=0 y Creation Date: 15 Nov 2017 (Yucca gloriosa L.) Page 1 of 21 TAXON: Yucca gloriosa L.
[Show full text]
Yucca: a Medicinally Significant Genus with Manifold Therapeutic Attributes
Review Nat. Prod. Bioprospect. 2012, 2, 231–234 DOI 10.1007/s13659-012-0090-4 Yucca: A medicinally significant genus with manifold therapeutic attributes Seema PATEL* Better Process Control School, Department of Food Science and Technology, University of California Davis, California, United States Received 9 November 2012; Accepted 20 November 2012 © The Author(s) 2012. This article is published with open access at Springerlink.com Abstract: The genus Yucca comprising of several species is dominant across the chaparrals, canyons and deserts of American South West and Mexico. This genus has long been a source of sustenance and drugs for the Native Americans. In the wake of revived interest in drug discovery from plant sources, this genus has been investigated and startling nutritive and therapeutic capacities have come forth. Apart from the functional food potential, antioxidant, antiinflammation, antiarthritic, anticancer, antidiabetic, antimicrobial, and hypocholesterolaemic properties have also been revealed. Steroidal saponins, resveratrol and yuccaols have been identified to be the active principles with myriad biological actions. To stimulate further research on this genus of multiple food and pharmaceutical uses, this updated review has been prepared with references extracted from MEDLINE database. Keywords: Yucca, saponin, antioxidant, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial Introduction filamentosa as medicines and soap. The roots were crushed to The genus Yucca belongs to Asparagaceae family and make poultice for wound healing. Further, the roots were used encompasses about 40–50 medicinally potent plants. These to cure gonorrhoea and rheumatism. The Zuni tribe inhabiting flowering plants generally thrive in arid parts of Southwestern the western New Mexico region used Yucca elata sap as hair US and Mexico, namely Mojave, Sonoran, Colorado and growth stimulant.
[Show full text]
Ecology and Evolution of Southeastern United States Yucca Species
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION OF SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES YUCCA SPECIES by JEREMY DANIEL RENTSCH (Under the Direction of JIM LEEBENS-MACK) ABSTRACT The genus Yucca contains approximately 40 species with most diversity found in Mexico and the southwestern United States. The southeastern United States is home to three well- described yucca species: the fleshy-fruited Y. aloifolia, the capsular-fruited Y. filamentosa, and Y. gloriosa – with a fruit type that does not follow convention. Yucca species are perhaps best known for the obligate pollination mutualism they share with moths in the genera Tegeticula and Parategeticula. Such interactions are thought to be highly specialized, restricting gene flow between species and even make evolutionary reversions to generalist life history characterizes impossible. Here, we show that Y. gloriosa is an intersectional, homploid, hybrid species produced by the crossing of Y. aloifolia and Y. filamentosa. We go on to show that Y. aloifolia has escaped from the obligate pollination mutualism and is being pollinated diurnally by the introduced European honey bee, Apis mellifera – an observation that directly refutes the idea that highly specialized species interactions lead to evolutionary dead ends. Finally, we utilized high throughput sequencing a biotinylated probe set in order to sequence many genes of interest in Y. aloifolia, laying the ground work to better understand its introduction history and pattern of pollinator association. INDEX WORDS: Yucca, hybrid speciation, population genetics, obligate mutualism ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION OF SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES YUCCA SPECIES by JEREMY DANIEL RENTSCH BS, Kent State University, 2007 A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of The University of Georgia in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY ATHENS, GEORGIA 2013 © 2013 Jeremy D.
[Show full text]
Yucca Brevifolia)
Western North American Naturalist 76(3), © 2016, pp. 374–378 DIRECTIONAL FLORAL ORIENTATION IN JOSHUA TREES (YUCCA BREVIFOLIA) Steven D. Warren1, L. Scott Baggett2, and Heather Warren3 ABSTRACT.—JoshUa tree (Yucca brevifolia Engelm.) is a large, arborescent member of the YUcca genUs. It is an endemic and visually dominant plant in portions of the Mojave Desert, USA. We document the unique and heretofore unreported directional orientation of its flower panicles. The flower panicles grow primarily at the tips of branches that are oriented to the south. When branches with flower panicles are not oriented in a southerly direction, the flower pani- cles themselves tend to bend or tilt toward the south. This strategy maximizes exposure of the panicles to direct solar radiation, which, within the latitudes where the Joshua tree grows, is always from the south. Such a strategy may mini- mize the energetic cost of translocating photosynthates from the plant’s leaf rosettes to the flowers. The flower panicles create large, light-colored landing pads for the obligate nocturnal moth pollinator. Residual warmth in the flower pani- cles may provide a thermal reward for the moth pollinator that emerges shortly after sunset. RESUMEN.—El árbol de JosUé(Yucca brevifolia Engelm.) es miembro grande Y arborescente del género Yucca. Es Una planta endémica y visualmente dominante en partes del desierto de Mojave, EE.UU. Documentamos, por primera vez, la orientación direccional de sus panículas de flores. Las panículas crecen, principalmente, en las puntas de ramas que están orientadas hacia el sur. Cuando las ramas con panículas de flores no se orientan en dirección sureña, las panículas mismas tienden a doblarse o inclinarse hacia el sur.
[Show full text]
Past and Ongoing Shifts in Joshua Tree Distribution Support Future Modeled Range Contraction
Ecological Applications, 21(1), 2011, pp. 137–149 Ó 2011 by the Ecological Society of America Past and ongoing shifts in Joshua tree distribution support future modeled range contraction 1,7 2 3 4 5,8 6 KENNETH L. COLE, KIRSTEN IRONSIDE, JON EISCHEID, GREGG GARFIN, PHILLIP B. DUFFY, AND CHRIS TONEY 1USGS, Colorado Plateau Research Station, P.O. Box 5614, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona 86011 USA 2Merriam-Powell Center for Environmental Research, Northern Arizona University, P.O. Box 4071, Flagstaff, Arizona 86011 USA 3NOAA Earth Systems Research Laboratory, 325 Broadway, Boulder, Colorado 80305 USA 4Institute of the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85719 USA 5Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and University of California, Merced, California 94550 USA 6USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Missoula, Montana 59808 USA Abstract. The future distribution of the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) is projected by combining a geostatistical analysis of 20th-century climates over its current range, future modeled climates, and paleoecological data showing its response to a past similar climate change. As climate rapidly warmed ;11 700 years ago, the range of Joshua tree contracted, leaving only the populations near what had been its northernmost limit. Its ability to spread northward into new suitable habitats after this time may have been inhibited by the somewhat earlier extinction of megafaunal dispersers, especially the Shasta ground sloth. We applied a model of climate suitability for Joshua tree, developed from its 20th-century range and climates, to future climates modeled through a set of six individual general circulation models (GCM) and one suite of 22 models for the late 21st century.
[Show full text]