''Yucca periculosa''Baker, ''Garden Chronicle''. 1870: 1088. is a plant in the family

Asparagaceae Asparagaceae (), known as the asparagus family, is a family of flowering plants, placed in the order Asparagales of the monocots. The family name is based on the edible garden asparagus, '' Asparagus officinalis''. This family includes both ...

with the common name izote (pronounced "ee-SOH-tay"). It is native to the Mexican states of

Veracruz Veracruz, formally Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Veracruz de Ignacio de la Llave, is one of the 31 states which, along with Mexico City, comprise the 32 Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entit ...

Morelos Morelos, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Morelos, is a landlocked state located in south-central Mexico. It is one of the 32 states which comprise the Political divisions of Mexico, Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into Mun ...

Guerrero Guerrero, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Guerrero, is one of the 32 states that compose the administrative divisions of Mexico, 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into Municipalities of Guerrero, 85 municipalities. The stat ...

Puebla Puebla, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Puebla, is one of the 31 states that, along with Mexico City, comprise the Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 217 municipalities and its capital is Puebla City. Part of east-centr ...

and

Oaxaca Oaxaca, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca, is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of the Mexico, United Mexican States. It is divided into municipalities of Oaxaca, 570 munici ...

Description

''Yucca periculosa'' is a large, branched, arborescent species up to 15 m tall. The width of their leaves depends on their age, with older plants having longer and wider leaves than young. Leaves are long, and green or a green-teal color with white fibers more pronounced on mature plants. Older specimens (trees) may branch. On mature plants, the tips of leaves are sharp and hard but on young plants they are not as hard or sharp as a mature plant. Leaves will droop down to provide shade and prevent loss of water by covering the stem on mature plants.

Flowers

This plant has creamy-white flowers. They are pollinated by yucca moths.

References

"Yucca Moths (''Tegeticula'' sp.)"
{{Taxonbar, from=Q1666059 periculosa Plants described in 1870 Flora of Veracruz Flora of Morelos Flora of Guerrero Flora of Puebla Flora of Oaxaca Taxa named by John Gilbert Baker