36 



American Midland Naturalist Monograph No. 4 



1. Spanish Bayonet, Datil (Yucca baccata Torr.), fig. 6. — Leaves 

 thick, rigid, spine-tipped, about II/2 to 2 feet long, 1 to 2 inches wide, dark 

 yellow-green, the margins with wiry, white or brownish recurving fibers; 

 flowering stalk about I1/2 to 2i/2 feet high, the flower cluster usually exceeding 

 the leaves by about 6 inches; flowers yellowish-white, purple-streaked on the 

 outside; fruits pendent, dark purple, oblong or ovoid, about 6 inches long 

 and 2 to 2i4 inches wide at the base, becoming plump and rounded or with 

 the upper third constricted. 



The common name, datil, means little date. The species is also called 

 banana yucca because of the large fleshy fruits. They are sweet and edible and 

 were important as food for the Indians. 



Occurrence. — mesa verde, common, 6,000 to 7,000 feet: Spruce Canyon below 

 park headquarters. ZION. GRAND CANYON, 3,800 to 8,000 feet. North Rim near edge of 

 rim: Point Sublime. South Rim: near Powell Memorial; Yavapai Observation station. 

 Canyon, common: Bright Angel trail above Indian Gardens; Cedar Ridge along Kaibab 

 trail near fossil fern quarry. 



Var. vespertina McKelvey. — Differs 

 from Y. baccata in having many short erect 

 stems and forming dense clumps; leaves 

 pale bluish- or sage-green, often twisted or 

 curved, narrower than in the species and 

 strongly concave as if folded lengthwise, 

 mostly shorter, the marginal fibers usually 

 finer and rather long; flower clusters smaller 

 and less conspicuous, often almost hidden 

 in the foliage. 



Occurrence. — ZION. 



Fig. 7. Narrowleaf yucca 

 {Yucca angustissima) . 



2. Narrowleaf Yucca (Yucca an- 

 gustissima Engelm.), fig. 7. — Leaves about 

 8 inches to I1/2 feet long, mostly less than 

 1/4 inch wide, flat and strap-like, tough, 

 white-margined and with fine white fibers 

 curling back from the margins; flowering 

 stalk about 3 to 5 (or 6) feet tall, often 

 with short branches; flowers creamy white, 

 petals narrow; capsules oblong, about 1^/2 

 to 2 inches long, rough, brown, weathering 

 white, constricted in the middle. (Syn. Y. 

 Harrimaniae Trelease, Y. Baileyi as to 

 western parks.) 



Occurrence. — BRYCE canyon. ZION, occa- 

 sional in the Sonoran Zone, 4,200 to 7,000 feet: 

 highway near east entrance ; Zion Lodge ; north 



of Potato Hollow. GRAND CANYON, 3,800 to 



7,000 feet. South Rim: Yavapai observation sta- 

 tion. Canyon: Kaibab trail on the Tonto; Bright 

 Angel trail near Indian Gardens. 



