392 BRECK’S NEW BOOK OF FLOWERS. 
YUCCA.—ApDaAm’s NEEDLE. 
This is an ornamental genus of plants, mostly natives 
of the Southern States and South America. Some of 
them succeed well in the open ground in the Northern 
States, and form a pleasing contrast with other plants, 
on account of the peculiarity of their foliage. The leaves 
are sharp-pointed, stiff, and rigid; and, in some of the 
species, the edges of the leaf are margined with long 
threads. 
Yiicca filamentésa, called Thready Yucca, from the 
long threads that hang from the leaves, is one of the most 
hardy sorts. The flower-stem grows to the height of five 
or six feet, and nearly the whole of it is covered with 
large, bell-shaped, white flowers; all the species are rather 
shy flowerers; in August and September. 
Y. gloriésa, and the variety superba, produce an im- 
mense number of fine bell-flowers on their tall stems. 
The foliage of all the species is evergreen, and they closely . 
resemble each other. The severity of our winters often 
blackens the foliage; to prevent this, the leaves should be 
gathered up and tied together, and covered with straw. 
Propagated from suckers. 
ZAUSCHNERIA. 
[Named for M. Zauschner, a German.) 
An elegant herbaceous perennial plant from California, ’ 
where it is found in very sandy soils. The plant grows 
in bunches; the flowers a brilliant scarlet, tubular or 
trumpet-shaped, terminating in five unequal divisions ; 
stamens and pistil projecting; flowers solitary, produced 
in the axils of the leaves; continuing in bloom most of 
the season; tender in wet soil, but has proved hardy in 
light soil, with little protection. 
