YuccaBrevifolia01

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The Joshua tree is a large, erect, evergreen, arborescent monocot. It is usually single-stemmed, but trees with two or three stems will sometimes occur. The Joshua tree is the largest nonriparian plant of the Mojave desert, they can reach heights of 16 to 49 feet, and the trunks can grow 2 to 4 feet in diameter. Erratic branching will generally begin at 3 to 10 feet above the ground. Flowering of the Joshua tree requires a year with sufficient precipitation, if enough precipitation occurs they will generally begin to bloom in early spring with 18 inch clusters of 1.5 inch yellowish, bell-shaped flowers. This species grows from southern California, Mexico, and western Arizona eastward into southern Nevada and southwestern Utah.

YUCCA SPECIES
All yuccas are in the Agave family (Agavaceae). They have stiff, succulent, perennial leaves and produce creamy-white, waxy flowers. They are found in the higher elevations of many of the North and Central American deserts, and are tolerant of cold winters. The many species of Yucca are difficult to distinguish from one another, but some are highly characteristic.

The largest yucca is the Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia), which has much-branched stems and can grow to a height of 10 to 15 metres. This plant is highly characteristic of the Mojave desert: its distribution largely defines the boundaries of this desert. Other characteristic species shown here are soaptree yucca (Yucca elata), banana yucca (Y. baccata) and Spanish bayonet.

All yuccas have a highly characteristic means of pollination by female yucca moths of the genus Tegeticula. This is a truly mutualistic association, benefitting both the plant and the moth (which depends on yuccas for its survival).

After mating, the female moth gathers pollen from the yucca flowers then flies to a different yucca plant and lays her eggs in the ovary of the flower. Then she inserts a ball of pollen into a special depression in the stigma of the flower, to ensure that the flower is fertilised. This pollination system is so precise that only yucca moths can pollinate these plants - yuccas grown in regions where the yucca moth is absent will never produce seeds unless the plants are hand-pollinated.

After fertilisation, the seeds develop within the flower's ovaries. At this stage the eggs of the moth hatch and the young larvae feed on the seeds, eating their way through some of the columns of seeds.

Yucca brevifolia supplements are derived from the leaves and root of the tree. Yucca brevifolia is also referred to as Joshua Tree and is a member of the species of yucca. Yucca grows in the arid regions of North America.

Yucca species are promoted for arthritis, hypertension (high blood pressure), migraine headaches, gout, colitis, bursitis and high cholesterol when taken by mouth. Yucca filamentosa is promoted for liver and gallbladder disorders. Yucca has also been used to make soaps and shampoos.

Yucca is approved for use as a foaming agent in foods such as root beer, alcoholic beer, and cocktail mixers. It has also been used as an additive in ice cream and natural pet foods.

This information is provided for your education only. Please share this information with your healthcare provider and be sure that you talk to your doctor and pharmacist about all the prescription and non-prescription medicines you take before you begin to use any herbal product.

The roots of yucca species contain saponins, which are poisonous to lower life forms (e.g. rodents, insects). When taken orally they appear nontoxic to humans, but if injected into the blood, can dissolve red blood cells. Yucca filamentosa will dissolve red blood cells.