Yucca. LILIACE^. 137 



Wood, like that of the whole genus, showing distinct marks of con- 

 centric arrangement, fibrous, spongy, heavy, difficult to cut and work ; 

 color light brown. 



The bitter, sweetish fruit is cooked and eaten by the Mexicans ; the 

 root stock, as in the whole genus, is saponaceous and largely used by 

 the Mexicans as a substitute for soap. 



410. Yucca brevifolia, Engelm. 

 The Joshua. Joshua Tree. 



Southwestern Utah, northwestern Arizona to southern Nevada, and the 

 valley of the Mohave River, California. 



A tree 6 to 12 metres in height, with a trunk 0.60 to 0.90 metre in 

 diameter ; dry, gravelly soil ; forming upon the Mohave Desert, at 2,500 

 feet elevation, an open, straggling forest. 



Wood light, soft, spongy, difficult to work ; color very light brown or 

 nearly white ; sometimes manufactured into paper-pulp. 



411. Yucca elata, Engelm. 



Western Texas to southern Arizona and Utah ; southward into Mexico. 

 A small tree, 3 to 5 metres in height, with a trunk 0.20 to 0.25 metre 

 in diameter ; dry, gravelly slopes. 



Wood light, soft, spongy ; color light brown or yellow. 



412. Yucca baccata, Torr. 



Spanish Bayonet. Mexican Banana. 



Western Texas, south of latitude 32° N., west through New Mexico 

 to southern Colorado and southern California ; in northern Mexico. 



A tree 7 to 12 metres in height, with a trunk 0.60 metre in diameter, or 

 often much smaller, and toward the northern limits of its range stem- 

 less ; forming upon the plains of Presidio County, Texas, extensive open 

 forests. 



Wood light, soft, spongy, difficult to work ; color light brown. 



The large juicy edible fruit is an important article of food to Mexicans 

 and Indians ; a strong coarse fibre, prepared by macerating the leaves in 

 water, is manufactured into rope in Mexico. 



