102 Kansas Academy of Science. 



THE COMPOSITION AND PROPERTIES OF THE 

 YUCCA PLANT. 



By O. A. Bkatif. 



A SPECIES of yucca, botanically known as Yucca angusti- 

 folia, but more commonly called soap weed or Spanish 

 bayonet, is found occurring abundantly on dry plains and hills 

 from Nebraska to Montana, Texas and Arizona. Two other 

 species are quite common — the Yucca harrimanix, found on 

 the arid plains and hills of Utah and western Colorado, and 

 the Yucca baccata, occurring from Colorado to Nevada, Texas 

 and California. 



In 1885 Abbott made the first chemical analysis of Yucca 

 angustifolia, and in addition to the substances ordinarily re- 

 ported present in plants closely related, found approximately 

 six per cent of saponin. It is now known that the method used 

 at that time gave high results, but, be that as it may, the fact 

 that saponin was reported opened up a new field of investiga- 

 tion. Whether the saponin was toxic or not seems not to have 

 been reported, but the conclusion was drawn that its presence 

 in yucca was primarily for the purpose of rendering the in- 

 soluble soil constituents adaptable to the plant's growth and 

 maintenance. 



Several years ago it was reported that yucca contained an 

 alkaloidal principle which was a specific for rheumatism when 

 used internally. A careful investigation failed to produce 

 positive results in this respect. 



PROPERTIES AND USES OF SAPONINS. 

 Saponins, while not at all thoroughly understood, are at 

 present used quite extensively. The saponins are mostly amor- 

 phous, colloidal substances which dissolve readily in water; 

 their aqueous solutions, if shaken with oils, fats or resins, 

 produce emulsions which are characterized by their great 

 stability. Related with their emulsifying property is the em- 

 ployment of saponins as substitutes for soaps, although there 

 is no evidence that yucca saponin is used for this purpose in 

 the United States ; yet it is true that in the East saponaceous 

 soaps are preferred, since they have no deleterious effect on 

 the color or the fiber of the most delicate fabrics. 



