Yucca

Yucca
Yucca elata in White Sands National Park, New Mexico
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Monocots
Order:	Asparagales
Family:	Asparagaceae
Subfamily:	Agavoideae
Genus:	Yucca L.
Species
See List of Yucca species
The country and state level native distributions of Yucca in North America[1]
Synonyms[1]
Clistoyucca (Engelm.) Trel. Codonocrinum Willd. ex Schult. & Schult.f. Samuela Trel. Sarcoyucca (Trel.) Linding. Matuda-pina Hochstätter

Yucca is a genus of plants which are also called yucca as a common name in English. The genus is made up of 50 accepted species native to North America from Panama to a few areas of southern Canada. The genus is generally classified in the asparagus family in a subfamily with the Agave, though historically it was part of the lily family. The species ranges from small shrubby plants to tree-like giants, such as the Joshua Tree.

The tight relationship between the yucca plants and their pollinators, the yucca moths from the genera Tegeticula and Parategeticula, is a well known example of evolutionary mutualism. They are an important part of the ecology of North American deserts, providing shelter to small animals and creating habitats. Human uses of the yuccas include cultivation as garden plant, chemical extracts, and parts of the plant that are eaten as food. The flower petals of various species, particularly in Central America and Mexico, are eaten as a part of local cuisine.