(Spanish Bayonet)

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Yucca glauca, Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 7600

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Yucca glauca, Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 7608

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Fruit, Yucca glauca, Pawnee Buttes, Weld Co. 7932

Scientific Name Yucca harrimaniae USDA PLANTS Symbol YUHA
Common Name Spanish Bayonet ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 43144
Family Asparagaceae (Asparagus) SEINet
Reference
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Description Life zones and habitat: Semidesert and mesas (4500 to 8000 ft.); dry desert slopes, foothills and plateaus.
Plant: Short, round yucca shrub up to 20 inches tall (excluding inflorescence and fruit stem); often colony-forming.
Leaves: Rosettes of pale green, concave, rigid leaf blades, linear- or spatulate-lanceolate, widest near middle, 12 to 20 inches long and 3/4 to 1-5/8-inches wide; margins are toothless, with white or brown threads; very sharp tips.
Inflorescence: Flowering stalk 14 to 28 inches tall arising within or just above rosette; large bell-shaped, hanging flowers with creamy-white, yellow or greenish-yellow tepals usually tinged purple, 1-3/4 to 2 inches long; filaments 5/8 to 1-1/8 inches long; pale green pistil 1 to 1-1/2 inches long and pale to bright green style.
Bloom Period: May and June.
Fruit: Erect cylindrical fruit capsules usually deeply constricted toward center 1-1/4 to 2-3/8 inches long
References: "Flora of Colorado" by Jennifer Ackerfield and SEINet.
BONAP Distribution Map

Map Color Key
Colorado Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2024

Banner photo: Castilleja rhexifolia and a brewing storm over the San Juan Mountains