Spanish Bayonet

S. D. McKelvey (1938–1947) included Yucca neomexicana in Y. harrimaniae, as did J. L. Reveal (1977c), who gave it varietal status. K. H. Clary’s (1997) DNA studies contributed to a consensus tree in which Y. harrimaniae and Y. neomexicana are discrete and widely separated. These taxa are allopatric, separated by the San Juan Mountains of Colorado, and this along with Clary’s evidence supports their recognition as separate species.

Plants cespitose, forming dense to open colonies, acaulescent or short-caulescent; rosettes usually small, asymmetrical or symmetrical. Stems to 0.3 m. Leaf blade pale green, linear- or spatulate-lanceolate, concavo-convex, widest near middle, 30–50 × 1.8–4.3 cm, rigid, margins entire, filiferous, white or brown, apex pungent. Inflorescences racemose, rarely paniculate proximally, arising within or just beyond rosettes, 3.5–7 dm; branches, when present, few, short; bracts erect, proximal to 20 cm, distal 5–8 cm; peduncle scapelike, 0.1–0.2 m, less than 2.5 cm diam. Flowers pendent; perianth broadly campanulate; tepals distinct, yellow or greenish yellow, usually tinged purple, broadly lanceolate, 4–5(–5.3) × 1.6–3.4 cm; filaments 1.6–2.8 cm; pistil pale green, 2.7–3.8 × 0.4–0.8 cm; style pale to bright green, 9–13 mm; stigmas lobed. Fruits erect, capsular, dehiscent, cylindrical, usually deeply constricted toward center, 3–5(–5.5) × 2–3 cm, dehiscence septicidal. Seeds dull black, thin, 5–8 × (3.5–)4–8 mm.

Ariz., Colo., Nev., N.Mex., Utah.

Flowering spring--early summer.

Desert slopes, foothills, and plateaus in limestone and volcanic outcrops; 1000--2500m.

Yucca gilbertiana (Trelease) Rydberg; Y. harrimaniae var. gilbertiana Trelease; Y. harrimaniae var. sterilis Neese & S. L. Welsh

Yucca harrimaniae Trel., the Spanish bayonet, is a species in the family Asparagaceae, native to Utah, Nevada, Colorado, northeastern Arizona and northern New Mexico, at elevations from 1000 m to 2700 m.

Yucca harrimaniae is a small, acaulescent (stemless) species forming clumps of rosettes. Flowers are nodding (hanging downward), partly greenish-white, partly purplish. The species is closely related to Y. sterilis (Neese & S.L.Welsh) S.L.Welsh & L.C.Higgins..

The overall species is relatively common and widespread. Two varieties, var. nana and var. sterilis, have very small and restricted ranges.