Yucca gigantea

Yucca elephantipes in tropical zone in Mexico.

The Giant Yucca (Yucca elephantipes ) ( English Common names: Giant Yucca, Spineless Yucca ) is a plant of the genus yucca (Yucca ) in the family of asparagus plants ( Asparagaceae ).

Description

The Giant Yucca formed from the thickened base numerous tribes of 2-10 meters in height. The variable, soft, toothed, green leaves are 60 to 110 cm long and 2-3 cm wide.

The period beginning in the leaves, branched, dense inflorescence is 0.5 to 1 meter high. The drooping, bell-shaped, white flowers are 3-5 cm long and 1-2 cm wide. The flowering period extends from August to September.

Occurrence

The Giant Yucca is in Mexico, distributed in the States Yucatan, Quintana Roo, Campeche, Chiapas, in dense forests at altitudes 2000-2100 m.

In the Mediterranean region in Europe they are planted in parks and gardens. Short periods of frost to about minus 8 ° C can be tolerated.

System

The Giant Yucca (Yucca elephantipes ) is a representative of the section Yucca Yucca series. This species is closely related to Yucca lacandonica, but is easily distinguished by the thickened stem base.

The first description by Eduard August von Regel under the name Yucca elephantipes has been published in 1859. Synonym of Baker under the name Yucca guatemalensis 1872.

Use

From the leaves of the giant yucca fibers are obtained; Flowers and stem tips are used as a vegetable.

Houseplant

The Giant Yucca is a common and easy to care for houseplant. It is more likely to keep dry and thrives in shady locations, tolerates sun but alike. The plant is maintained even in larger rooms plant tubs where they can reach stature heights of several meters, provided that the ceiling height allows it. Propagation is usually vegetatively by cuttings head and stem cuttings. Commercially almost only plants are offered, which were visible drawn from stem cuttings. In the cuttings in the room to keep the earth is quite dry, the cuttings to show growth, as the tribes rot in constantly damp or even wet earth. On leafy cuttings, the leaves are sprayed daily with the mist sprayer, an atmosphere with constantly high humidity increases the risk of stem rot. At root cuttings, new shoots show sometimes only after several months.

Pictures

Yucca elephantipes

As a houseplant

Stem Cuttings with bud, approximately 1 year after planting the cuttings