34 American Midland Naturalist Monograph No. 4 



2. Nevada Ephedra (Ephedra nevadensis Wats.),''' fig. 5. — Erect olive- 

 green or bluish-green shrubs ij^ to 2 feet high, the branches somewhat spread- 

 ing in open brush-like sprays; flowers borne in scaly cone-hke structures, the 

 pollen-bearing and seed-bearing on different plants, these borne in pairs at 

 the stem-joints. 



Occurrence. — ZION : in the Upper Sonoran Zone. GRAND CANYON, common in the 

 canyon, 2,500 to 4,000 feet: Kaibab trail below Tonto on both sides of Colorado 

 River; near Roaring Springs; Bright Angel trail below Indian Gardens. 



3. Torrey Ephedra (Ephedra Torreyana Wats.). — Erect or spreading 

 shrubs 1 to 3^2 feet high, the branches usually flexuous; leaf-scales and flower- 

 clusters arranged in groups of 3 instead of in pairs as in the other species. 



Occurrence. — ziON. grand canyon, rare: inner gorge of the canyon; Kaibab trail 

 just above Tonto; Grand Falls, Little Colorado River. 



4. Vine Ephedra (Ephedra ant'tsyphiiitica Mey.). — Large shrub with 

 lax, prostrate or reclining stems 6 to 9 feet long; flower groups in pairs at 



the stem-joints. 



Occurrence. — mesa VERDE. 



Lily Family (Liliaceae) 

 Yucca (Yucca L.) 



The yuccas occur mostly in the parks of the Southwest, although one 

 species is found in Sequoia National Park. The plants are very easily recog- 

 nized by their long, stiff, fibrous, bristle-pointed leaves clustered together at 

 or near the ground with a single flowering stalk arising from the center. In 

 \ ucca Whipplei the stalk may be as much as 14 feet tall, while in other 

 species it may be shorter than the leaves. The yuccas were an important 

 source of food for the Indians of the Southwest who still make use of these 

 plants in various ways. Remains found in the cliff dwellings indicate that it 

 was of great importance also to those ancient peoples. Every part of the 

 plant was used. The flowering stalks, just before the buds opened, were 

 peeled and cut into sections and either boiled or roasted in the ashes. The 

 buds and fruits were also boiled and eaten. The leaves furnished fiber for 

 making sandals, rope and cloth, and the large, thick roots were cut up into 

 pieces and used for soap. "Amole," as this was called, is still used by the 

 Indians in certain places. During the World War emergency yucca fiber was 

 used as a substitute for jute for bagging. 



The yucca flowers are particularly interesting because they bloom at night 

 when pollination is accomplished by certain species of small moths. The 

 flowers are so constructed that the fruits would never develop if it were not 



7 Ephedra Clol(e\)i Cutler, similar to Nevada ephedra, is considered ps the common 

 form in our area by Cutler, H. C, Monograph of the North American Species of the 

 Genus Ephedra. Missouri Bot. Gard. Annals 26: 373-428. 1939. 



