Guatemala yucca, Spineless yucca
Yucca gigantea

Family: Asparagaceae

What it is like

A tree like plant. It grows 3-10 m tall. The leaves are simple and in rings at the top of the plant. They are 30-100 cm long by 5-7 cm wide. There are spines towards the top of the plant. The flowers are in a panicle that can point upwards or hang down. The flowers are cream. The fruit are capsules 7-8 cm long by 4-5 cm wide. There are several seeds in a white pulp.

Also put in the family Agavaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows from sea level to 1,000 m altitude in Central America.

Countries/locations it is found in

Belize, Central America, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico, Nicaragua, North America, Panama, South America, St Lucia, West Indies

How it is used for food

The flowers are boiled or fried and eaten.

Edible parts

Flowers

How it is grown

Plants can be grown from seeds.

Its other names

Local names

Akgalukut, Cardum, Chochas, Coyol, Espadillo, Flor de izote, Itabo, Izote

Synonyms

Dracaena lennei Baker; Dracaena yuccoides Baker; Sarcoyucca elephantipes Linding. [Illegitimate]; Yucca eleana W. Watson; Yucca elephantipes Regel ex Trel. [Illegitimate]; Yucca elephantipes var. ghiesbreghtii Molon; Yucca elephantipes var. gigantea (Lem.) Molon; Yucca ghiesbreghtii Baker [Invalid]; Yucca guatemalensis Baker; Yucca lenneana Baker; Yucca mazelii W.Watson; Yucca mooreana Baker; Yucca roezlii Baker [Invalid];