Plant of the Month March 2020 Distribution Information Mexico, Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua Popular in nineteenth century gardens, our garden features a Common Name: Spineless Yucca and Panama. few venerable examples of Yucca gigantea. The plant growing Scientific Name: Yucca gigantea next to our Lotus Pond is perhaps a remnant of a rockery Lem. Native Habitat featuring Yuccas and Agaves referred to in a 1903 guide to Family: Asparagaceae Tropical Forest. the Botanic Garden. Etymology Description Yuccas in their native habitat are pollinated by individual Genus: Yucca – derived from An evergreen monocot that grows into a large palm-like species of moths (Tegeticula spp.). Flowers open at night and shrub to 10 metres, with a distinctive swollen base and are visited by adult moths. Moths gather pollen from the the Taino word for Cassava tapering, sometimes branched stems. Branches produce male floral parts (anthers) . Female moths then lay their eggs Species epithet: gigantea - Latin for large clusters of pliable,dark green leaves, 60-120 cm long, that lack amongst the unfertilised ovules at the base of the female the sharp spines characteristic of the genus. floral parts, before depositng the pollen on the top of the female part of the flower (stigma). The ovules of the now Flowers pollinated flower develop into seeds, providing the only Cup shaped creamy-white flowers are produced along a food source for the developing larvae of the moth. The moth paniculate inflorescence up to a metre long that emerges larvae generally doesn’t eat all of the seeds meaning the plant from a rosette of leaves. Flowers are perfect or bisexual, can reproduce. In this way both moth and Yucca benefit in a containing male and female parts in each flower. Flowers mutualistic relationship. require a specific species of moth for pollination. The flowers of Yucca gigantea are edible and often used in Fruit soups. Plants are both drought and shade tolerant making Indehiscent, brown, fleshy and oval shaped to 2.5 cm long them a popular garden plant, especially those with leaf containing circular seeds. Fruit does not form outside the variegation. plants native range due to the absence of pollinating moths. Location in Garden Lawn 23 adjacent to the Lotus pond next to the Oriental Garden. Succulent Garden #RBGSydney .