Yucca elata var. verdiensis
in A. Cronquist et al., Intermount. Fl. 6: 533. 1977.
Plants primarily caulescent, rarely acaulescent, 1.5–3.5 m. Stems 1–1.5 m. Leaf blade 25–45 × 0.2–0.6(–1.3) cm. Inflorescences paniculate, distally racemose, 7–13 dm; branches 1–3.5 dm; peduncle 1–1.5 m. Flowers: tepals 3.2–4.5 × 1.3–2 cm; filaments 1.5–2.5 cm; anthers (2–)2.5–4.8 mm; pistil 2–2.5 cm. Capsules 4–4.5 × 2–4 cm.
Phenology: Flowering late spring.
Habitat: Rocky hillsides, canyons
Elevation: 300–1900 m
Discussion
S. D. McKelvey (1938–1947) wondered if Yucca elata var. verdiensis might be a mountain variety of Y. angustissima. On the other hand, she pointed out the differences between the two taxa and stated that the features of the former bear “no resemblance to those of Y. angustissima.” J. M. Webber (1953) suggested that var. verdiensis is a hybrid between var. elata and Y. angustissima.
Selected References
None.