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41-449: Yucca brevifolia (also known as the Joshua tree , yucca palm , tree yucca , and palm tree yucca ) is a plant species belonging to the genus Yucca . It is tree-like in habit, which is reflected in its common names. This monocotyledonous tree is native to the arid Southwestern United States , specifically California , Arizona , Utah , and Nevada , and northwestern Mexico . It

82-474: A biblical story in which Joshua keeps his hands reached out for an extended period of time to enable the Israelites in their conquest of Canaan ( Joshua 8:18–26 ). Further, the shaggy leaves may have provided the appearance of a beard. However, no direct or contemporary attestation of this origin exists, and the name Joshua tree is not recorded until after Mormon contact; moreover, the physical appearance of

123-497: A cold or dry/wet season. Evergreen trees also lose leaves, but each tree loses its leaves gradually and not all at once. Most tropical rainforest plants are considered to be evergreens, replacing their leaves gradually throughout the year as the leaves age and fall, whereas species growing in seasonally arid climates may be either evergreen or deciduous. Most warm temperate climate plants are also evergreen. In cool temperate climates, fewer plants are evergreen. In such climates, there

164-426: A desert species; new seedlings may grow at an average rate of 7.6 cm (3.0 in) per year in their first 10 years, then only about 3.8 cm (1.5 in) per year. The trunk consists of thousands of small fibers and lacks annual growth rings , making determining the tree's age difficult. This tree has a top-heavy branch system, and a broad root system, with roots in one case found 11 m (36 ft) from

205-431: A high probability that their populations will be reduced by 90% of their current range by the end of the 21st century, thus fundamentally transforming the ecosystem of the park. Wildfires, invasive grasses and poor migration patterns for the trees' seeds are all additional factors in the species' imperilment. As an example, approximately 13%—or more than 1.3 million Joshua trees—in one of the densest Joshua tree populations in

246-731: A higher soil acidity and lower soil nitrogen content. This is the case with Mediterranean evergreen seedlings, which have unique C and N storages that allow stored resources to determine fast growth within the species, limiting competition and bolstering survival. These conditions favor the growth of more evergreens and make it more difficult for deciduous plants to persist. In addition, the shelter provided by existing evergreen plants can make it easier for younger evergreen plants to survive cold and/or drought. Evergreen plants can have decorative as well as functional uses. In months where most other plants are dormant, evergreens with their sturdy structure, and vibrant foliage are popular choices to beautify

287-420: A larger volume of parenchyma and air spaces per unit leaf area. They have larger leaf biomass per unit leaf area, and hence a lower specific leaf area . Construction costs do not differ between the groups. Evergreens have generally a larger fraction of total plant biomass present as leaves (LMF), but they often have a lower rate of photosynthesis. Deciduous trees shed their leaves usually as an adaptation to

328-680: A route which has been designated the Joshua Tree Parkway of Arizona. The trees are abundant in Saddleback Butte State Park 135 kilometres (85 miles) north of Downtown Los Angeles in Los Angeles County's Antelope Valley . The common name Joshua tree apparently comes from Christian iconography. The Joshua tree is called "hunuvat chiy'a" or "humwichawa" by the indigenous Cahuilla . It is also called izote de desierto (Spanish, "desert dagger"). It

369-491: A shampoo in Native American rituals. Dried yucca leaves and trunk fibers have a low ignition temperature, making the plant desirable for use in starting fires via friction. The stem (when dried) that sports the flowers is often used in conjunction with a sturdy piece of cedar for fire-making. In rural Appalachian areas, species such as Yucca filamentosa are referred to as "meat hangers". With their sharp-spined tips,

410-632: A threat to population density of prone areas but not to the limits of the range itself, that several population studies showed Yucca brevifolia was abundant, and that although the southern region of the species' range has been reduced, the trend is that the northern region has been expanding over the last 11,700 years as the North American ice cap melted, allowing the species to occupy its current range. The studies showing reduced population after fires used aerial photography to document populations which would underreport smaller and thus younger trees, as

451-515: A winter freeze before they bloom. Once they bloom, the flowers are pollinated by the yucca moth ( Tegeticula synthetica ), which spreads pollen while laying eggs inside the flower. The larvae feed on the seeds, but enough seeds remain to reproduce. The Joshua tree is also able to actively abort ovaries in which too many eggs have been produced. The Joshua tree is native to the southwestern United States (Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah) and northwestern Mexico. This range mostly coincides with

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492-438: Is a predominance of conifers because few evergreen broadleaf plants can tolerate severe cold below about −26 °C (−15 °F). In addition, evergreen foliage experiences significant leaf damage in these cold, dry climates. Root systems are the most vulnerable aspect of many plants. Even though roots are insulated by soil, which tends to be warmer than average air temperatures, soil temperatures that drop too low can kill

533-601: Is confined mostly to the Mojave Desert between 400 and 1,800 m (1,300 and 5,900 ft) elevation. It thrives in the open grasslands of Queen Valley and Lost Horse Valley in Joshua Tree National Park . Other regions with large populations of the tree can be found northeast of Kingman, Arizona , in Mohave County ; and along U.S. 93 between the towns of Wickenburg and Wikieup ,

574-669: Is not likely to become an endangered species in the foreseeable future in the absence of special protection and management efforts required by CESA. In February 2023, California governor Gavin Newsom 's administration proposed a budget trailer bill The Western Joshua Tree Conservation Act to focus on protecting the climate-threatened species and permitting development in the Southern California desert . The legislation requires conservation plan for this and other species that may be threatened by climate change and would authorize

615-550: Is the state flower of New Mexico in the southwest United States. No species name is given in the citation; however, the New Mexico Centennial Blue Book from 2012 references the soaptree yucca ( Yucca elata ) as one of the more widespread species in New Mexico. The Yucca flower is also the national flower of El Salvador , where it is known as flor de izote . As of February 2012 ,

656-617: The Americas and the Caribbean in a wide range of habitats, from humid rainforest and wet subtropical ecosystems to the hot and dry ( arid ) deserts and savanna. Early reports of the species were confused with the cassava ( Manihot esculenta ). Consequently, Linnaeus mistakenly derived the generic name from the Taíno word for the latter, yuca . The Aztecs living in Mexico since before

697-579: The California Department of Fish and Wildlife to permit taking a western Joshua tree only under certain conditions. The legislation requires a fee of up to $ 2500 for the removal, relocation or trimming of limbs of a Western Joshua tree, including dead trees and limbs. This bill was passed by California lawmakers in June 2023 and went into effect on July 10, 2023. Different forms of the species are cultivated, including smaller plants native from

738-527: The Curculionidae . Yuccas are widely grown as ornamental plants in gardens. Many species also bear edible parts, including fruits , seeds , flowers , flowering stems , and (more rarely) roots . References to yucca root as food often arise from confusion with the similarly pronounced, but botanically unrelated, yuca, also called cassava or manioc ( Manihot esculenta ). Roots of soaptree yucca ( Yucca elata ) are high in saponins and are used as

779-847: The Joshua tree more closely resembles a similar story told of Moses . Ranchers and miners who were contemporaneous with the Mormon immigrants used the trunks and branches as fencing and for fuel for ore-processing steam engines. In addition to the autonymic subspecies Y. b. subsp. brevifolia , two other subspecies have been described: Y. b. subsp. herbertii (Webber's yucca or Herbert Joshua tree) and Y. b. subsp. jaegeriana (the Jaeger Joshua tree or Jaeger's Joshua tree or pygmae yucca), though both are sometimes treated as varieties or forms . Y.b. subsp. jaegeriana has also been treated as its own species. Joshua trees grow quickly for

820-535: The Spanish arrival, in Nahuatl , call the local yucca species ( Yucca gigantea ) iczotl , which gave the Spanish izote . Izote is also used for Yucca filifera . The natural distribution range of the genus Yucca (49 species and 24 subspecies) covers a vast area of the Americas . The genus is represented throughout Mexico and extends into Guatemala ( Yucca guatemalensis ). It also extends to

861-688: The World Checklist of Selected Plant Families recognizes 49 species of Yucca and several hybrids: A number of other species previously classified in Yucca are now classified in the genera Dasylirion , Furcraea , Hesperaloe , Hesperoyucca , and Nolina . From 1897 to 1907, Carl Ludwig Sprenger created and named 122 Yucca hybrids. Evergreen There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, including trees , shrubs , and vines. Evergreens include: The Latin binomial term sempervirens , meaning "always green", refers to

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902-476: The area in which they reside. The excellent water economy within the evergreen species is due to high abundance when compared to deciduous species. Whereas deciduous trees lose nutrients whenever they lose their leaves. In warmer areas, species such as some pines and cypresses grow on poor soils and disturbed ground. In Rhododendron , a genus with many broadleaf evergreens, several species grow in mature forests but are usually found on highly acidic soil where

943-444: The base, tapering to a sharp point; they are borne in a dense spiral arrangement at the apex of the stems. The leaf margins are white and serrated . Flowers typically appear from February to late April, in panicles 30 to 55 cm tall and 30 to 38 cm broad, the individual flowers erect, 4 to 7 cm tall, with six creamy white to green tepals . The tepals are lanceolate and are fused to the middle. The fused pistils are 3 cm tall and

984-453: The deserts of North America being regarded as the center of diversity for the genus. Yuccas have a very specialized, mutualistic pollination system; being pollinated by yucca moths (family Prodoxidae ); the insect transfers the pollen from the stamens of one plant to the stigma of another, and at the same time lays an egg in the flower; the moth larva then feeds on some of the developing seeds, always leaving enough seed to perpetuate

1025-760: The eastern part of the species range. These smaller plants grow 2.5 m tall and branch when about 1 m tall. Red-shafted flickers make nests in the branches, which are later used by other birds. Prior to the twentieth century, Native Americans of the Mojave and western Sonoran Desert routinely used several parts of the Joshua tree as food and fiber (Cornett, J.W., 2018, Indian Uses of Desert Plants, Nature Trails Press, Palm Springs, CA). Leaf fibers were occasionally used to bind and manufacture sandals. Root sheaths were woven into baskets to add reddish-brown designs. Fruits were baked or boiled then eaten. Seeds were ground into flour and mixed with flour from other plant species. The flour

1066-552: The evergreen nature of the plant, for instance: The longevity of individual leaves in evergreen plants varies from a few months to several decades (over 30 years in the Great Basin bristlecone pine ). Japanese umbrella pine is unique in that it has its own family of which it is the only species. Evergreen and deciduous species vary in a range of morphological and physiological characters. Generally, broad-leaved evergreen species have thicker leaves than deciduous species, with

1107-485: The geographical reach of the Mojave Desert, where it is considered one of the major indicator species for the desert. It occurs at elevations between 400 and 1,800 m (1,300 and 5,900 ft). Joshua trees are one of the species predicted to have their range reduced and shifted by climate change . Concern remains that they will be eliminated from Joshua Tree National Park, with ecological research suggesting

1148-408: The nearest Joshua tree. If it survives the rigors of the desert, it can live for several hundred years. The tallest trees reach about 15 m (49 ft). New plants can grow from seed , but in some populations, new stems grow from underground rhizomes that spread out around the parent tree. The evergreen leaves are dark green, linear, bayonet-shaped, 15 to 35 cm long, and 7 to 15 mm broad at

1189-964: The north through Baja California in the west, northwards into the southwestern United States , through the drier central states as far north as southern Alberta in Canada ( Yucca glauca ssp. albertana ). Yucca is also native northward to the coastal lowlands and dry beach scrub of the coastal areas of the southeastern United States , along the Gulf of Mexico and South Atlantic States from coastal Texas to Maryland . Yuccas have adapted to an equally vast range of climatic and ecological conditions. They are found in rocky deserts and badlands , in prairies and grassland , in mountainous regions, woodlands, in coastal sands ( Yucca filamentosa ), and even in subtropical and semi temperate zones. Several species occur in humid tropical zones ( Yucca lacandonica ) but most species occur in arid conditions, with

1230-423: The nutrients are less available to plants. In taiga or boreal forests , it is too cold for the organic matter in the soil to decay rapidly, so the nutrients in the soil are less easily available to plants, thus favoring evergreens. In temperate climates, evergreens can reinforce their own survival; evergreen leaf and needle litter has a higher carbon-nitrogen ratio than deciduous leaf litter , contributing to

1271-448: The plant. The exact temperature which evergreen roots can handle depends on the species, for example, Picea Glauca (White Spruce) roots are killed at −10 °F (−23 °C). In areas where there is a reason for being deciduous, e.g. a cold season or dry season, evergreen plants are usually an adaptation of low nutrient levels. Additionally, they usually have hard leaves and have an excellent water economy due to scarce resources in

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1312-565: The sap, and are widely used in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals The flower petals are commonly eaten in Central America , but the plant's reproductive organs (the anthers and ovaries ) are first removed because of their bitterness. The petals are blanched for 5 minutes, and then cooked a la mexicana (with tomato, onion, chili) or in tortitas con salsa (egg-battered patties with green or red sauce). In Guatemala , they are boiled and eaten with lemon juice. In El Salvador ,

1353-486: The species. Certain species of the yucca moth have evolved antagonistic features against the plant. They do not assist in the plant's pollination efforts while continuing to lay their eggs in the plant for protection. Yucca species are the host plants for the caterpillars of the yucca giant-skipper ( Megathymus yuccae ), ursine giant-skipper ( Megathymus ursus ), and Strecker's giant-skipper ( Megathymus streckeri ). Beetle herbivores include yucca weevils , in

1394-421: The stigma cavity is surrounded by lobes. The semi-fleshy fruit that is produced is green-brown, elliptical, and contains many flat seeds. Joshua trees usually do not branch until after they bloom (though branching may also occur if the growing tip is destroyed by the yucca-boring weevil ), and they do not bloom every year. Like most desert plants, their blooming depends on rainfall at the proper time. They also need

1435-594: The tender tips of stems are eaten and known locally as cogollo de izote . The most common houseplant yucca is Yucca gigantea . Yuccas are widely grown as architectural plants providing a dramatic accent to landscape design. They tolerate a range of conditions but are best grown in full sun in subtropical or mild temperate areas. In gardening centres and horticultural catalogues, they are usually grouped with other architectural plants such as cordylines and phormiums . Several species of yucca can be grown outdoors in temperate climates, including:- The yucca flower

1476-485: The tough, fibrous leaves were used to puncture meat and knotted to form a loop with which to hang meat for salt curing or in smokehouses. The fibers can be used to make domestic items or for manufacturing cordage, be it sewing-thread or rope. Yucca extract is also used as a foaming agent in some beverages such as root beer and soda. Yucca powder and sap are derived from the logs of the plant; such extracts can be produced by mechanical squeezing and subsequent evaporation of

1517-581: The trees' dispersal. However, ground squirrels are very effective at moving the seeds long distances. In March 2022, California Department of Fish and Wildlife conducted a status review of the Western Joshua Tree to determine whether to list the species as threatened under the California Endangered Species Act (CESA). The study showed that the largest threat to Yucca brevifolia was wildfires, that wildfires were

1558-596: The world in Mojave National Preserve were killed in the Dome Fire in August 2020. Also, concern exists about the ability of the species to migrate to favorable climates due to the extinction of the giant Shasta ground sloth ( Nothrotheriops shastensis ) 13,000 years ago; ground sloth dung has been found to contain Joshua tree leaves, fruits, and seeds, suggesting that the sloths might have been key to

1599-512: Was first formally described in the botanical literature as Yucca brevifolia by George Engelmann in 1871 as part of the Geological Exploration of the 100th meridian (or " Wheeler Survey "). The name "Joshua tree" is commonly said to have been given by a group of Mormon settlers crossing the Mojave Desert in the mid-19th century: The tree's role in guiding them through the desert combined with its unique shape reminded them of

1640-399: Was moistened with water and the resulting paste was kneaded into cakes and dried. Yucca See text Yucca is a genus of perennial shrubs and trees in the family Asparagaceae , subfamily Agavoideae . Its 40–50 species are notable for their rosettes of evergreen , tough, sword-shaped leaves and large terminal panicles of white or whitish flowers . They are native to

1681-485: Was noted in the review. The review concluded: Based on the criteria described above, the best scientific information available to the Department at this time indicates that western Joshua tree is not in serious danger of becoming extinct throughout all, or a significant portion, of its range due to one or more causes, including loss of habitat, change in habitat, overexploitation, predation, competition, or disease, and

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