''Hesperoyucca peninsularis'', the peninsular candle or lechuguilla, is a plant species
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...
rosette
Rosette is the French diminutive of ''rose''. It may refer to:
Flower shaped designs
* Rosette (award), a mark awarded by an organisation
* Rosette (design), a small flower design
*hence, various flower-shaped or rotational symmetric forms:
** R ...
. It is
semelparous
Semelparity and iteroparity are two contrasting reproductive strategies available to living organisms. A species is considered ''semelparous'' if it is characterized by a single reproduction, reproductive episode before death, and ''iteroparous ...
monocarpic
Monocarpic plants are those that flower and set seeds only once, and then die.
The term is derived from Greek (', "single" + , "fruit" or "grain"), and was first used by Alphonse de Candolle. Other terms with the same meaning are '' hapaxanth'' ...
or
polycarpic
Polycarpic plants are those that flower and set seeds many times before dying. A term of identical meaning is pleonanthic and iteroparous. Polycarpic plants are able to reproduce multiple times due to at least some portion of its meristems being ...
, and sometimes
rhizomatous
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome ( ) is a modified subterranean plant stem that sends out roots and shoots from its nodes. Rhizomes are also called creeping rootstalks or just rootstalks. Rhizomes develop from axillary buds and grow hori ...
. Some
form
Form is the shape, visual appearance, or configuration of an object. In a wider sense, the form is the way something happens.
Form may also refer to:
*Form (document), a document (printed or electronic) with spaces in which to write or enter dat ...
secondary rosettes at their base while others branch their
caudex
A caudex (: caudices) of a plant is a stem, but the term is also used to mean a rootstock and particularly a basal stem structure from which new growth arises.pages 456 and 695
In the strict sense of the term, meaning a stem, "caudex" is most ...
to produce new rosettes after flowering.
Taxonomy
Phylogeny and classification
Although morphological characteristics and phylogenetic ITS analysis show that ''H. peninsularis'' is somewhat distinct from '' H. whipplei'', it is still widely recognized as either a form or a subspecies of ''H.'' ''whipplei''. More conclusive research shows that ''H. peninsularis'' and ''H. whipplei'' form a polytomy, and are sister to '' H. newberryi'', which is consistent with the fact that the populations of ''H. newberryi'' are disjunct from the genus while ''H. peninsularis'' and ''H. whipplei'' overlap.Archibald, J. K., Kephart, S. R., Theiss, K. E., Petrosky, A. L., & Culley, T. M. (2015) Multilocus phylogenetic inference in subfamily Chlorogaloideae and related genera of Agavaceae–Informing questions in taxonomy at multiple ranks. ''Molecular phylogenetics and evolution'', ''84'', 266-283.
Distribution and habitat
It occurs in the coastal succulent scrub of northwestern Baja California south into the
central desert
Deserts cover about , or 18%, of the Australian mainland, but about 35% of the Australian continent receives so little rain, it is practically desert. Collectively known as the Great Australian desert, they are primarily distributed throughout ...
and the
Sierra de San Francisco
The Sierra de San Francisco is a mountain range in Mulegé Municipality of the northern region of Baja California Sur state, in northwestern Mexico.
Geography
The Sierra de San Francisco are on the eastern side of the Baja California Peninsula, n ...
in
Baja California Sur
Baja California Sur, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Baja California Sur, is a state in Mexico. It is the 31st and last state to be admitted, in 1974. It is also the second least populated Mexican state and the ninth-largest state by ...
.
This species grows in association with Elephant cactus, ''
Larrea
''Larrea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the caltrop family, Zygophyllaceae. It contains five species of evergreen shrubs that are native to the Americas. The generic name honours Bishop Juan Antonio Hernández Pérez de Larrea, a patron of ...
'',
Boojum tree
''Fouquieria columnaris'', the Boojum tree or ''cirio'' () is a tree in the Fouquieriaceae, ocotillo family, whose other members include the ocotillos. Some taxonomists place it in the separate genus ''Idria''. It is nearly endemic (ecology), end ...
Dudleya
''Dudleya'', commonly known as liveforevers, is a genus of rosette-forming succulent plants in the stonecrop family, Crassulaceae, consisting of about 68 taxa in southwestern North America and Guadalupe Island. The species come in many forms, so ...
'', ''
Agave
''Agave'' (; ; ) is a genus of monocots native to the arid regions of the Americas. The genus is primarily known for its succulent and xerophytic species that typically form large Rosette (botany), rosettes of strong, fleshy leaves.
Many plan ...
'',
ragweed
Ragweeds are flowering plants in the genus ''Ambrosia'' in the aster family, Asteraceae. They are distributed in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, especially North America,chollas. It grows on granite or basalt soils. The plant tends to grow in clusters but occasionally can be found growing solitarily.
Description
It is a perennial plant characterized by its rosette of stiff, sword-like leaves and tall flower stalks. The leaves are long, narrow, and pointed, often with a sharp tip and fibrous margins. The plant produces large clusters of white or cream-colored flowers, which are bell-shaped and fragrant. It bears dry, dehiscent capsules that contain flat, black seeds.
Growth and Cultivation
Prefers well-drained soils and can tolerate poor, sandy soils typical of desert environments. Requires full sun to thrive. It is drought-tolerant and requires minimal water once established, making it well-suited for xeriscaping and water-wise gardening. Can be propagated by seed or offsets.
Ecological Importance
The flowers are pollinated by specific species of yucca moths, which have a mutualistic relationship with the plant. The moths lay their eggs in the flowers, and the larvae feed on some of the developing seeds.
Uses
Due to its striking appearance and low water needs, it is often used in ornamental landscaping, especially in arid Indigenous peoples have used parts of the plant for food, fiber, and other purposes.