Noticeable Plants 71 



Yucca brevifolia. Joshua tree, Yucca palm. A tree-yucca, 

 up to 30 feet high, with stiff, strong arms and tufts 

 of blade-like leaves, found in certain mountain and 

 high mesa localities. Flowers whitish, bell-shaped, in 

 large clusters, rather ill-smelling: fruit a short, thick 

 pod which remains closed Avhen mature and dr^'. 

 Blooms in early spring. 



Yucca mohavensis. A small tree-yucca, somewhat branch- 

 ing, with tufts of very long, dagger-like leaves, found 

 in similar localities to those inhabited by the foregoing. 

 Flowers also similar: fruit a large blunt pod which 

 becomes soft and edible when ripe. Blooms in late 

 spring. 



Yucca whipplei. Spanish bayonet, Quijote. The common 

 yucca of the coast mountains, with a very large spike 

 of creamy, bell-shaped flowers on a tall, straight stalk 

 rising from a sheaf of long, stiff, spiky leaves. Fruit 

 becomes hard and splits open when ripe. Blooms in 

 late spring. 



