YUCCA
Common Names: Yucca, Bear grass, Adam's needle, Soapweed, Spanish Bayonet.
Scientific Name: Yucca genus
When to Find: Flowers in spring. Seeds in summer and fall. Fiber and soap
all year.
Where to Find: Open or sandy areas. Most common in desert regions.
Parts Used: Petals, seeds, leaves, and roots.
Preparation: Split pods, collect seeds, and cook as a vegetable. Eat flower petals fresh as salad. Peel roots, pound, and mix with water for cleansing soap. Strip leaf fibers to make thread or cord.
Identification: Stiff, spiky, clustered leaves having threads or thornlike teeth on the edges. Tall woody flower stalk with pods and white or cream colored flowers.
