12.
Yucca rupicola
Scheele, Linnaea. 23: 143. 1850.
Twisted-leaf yucca
Yucca rupicola var. tortifolia Engelmann
Plants usually forming open colonies of rosettes, acaulescent, with branching subterranean caudices; rosettes 2—15 per colony, each rosette with fewer than 100 leaves. Leaf blade lanceolate, twisted, strongly concave, widest at middle, distinctly narrowing toward base, broadened at stem attachments, 35—60 × 1.7—4 cm, somewhat fleshy, flexible, margins denticulate or wavy, dark orange or reddish brown, apex pointed. Inflorescences paniculate, arising beyond rosettes, narrowly ovoid, 2.5—10 dm; branches 0.7—2 dm; bracts erect; peduncle scapelike, 0.3—1.5 m, 1.5—2 cm diam. Flowers pendent; perianth campanulate; tepals distinct, white or greenish white, ovate, 4—7 × 1.5—3 cm, apex sharply acuminate; filaments 1.8—3.2 cm; pistil 2.5—4.5 cm; style white or greenish, 12—20 mm; stigmas lobed. Fruits erect, capsular, dehiscent, ellipsoid to cylindric, 4—5.5 × 2—3 cm, dehiscence septicidal. Seeds dull black, thin, 6—8 mm diam.
Flowering late spring. Rocky hillsides of limestone ledges, open plains, woodlands; 400--900 m; Tex.
Yucca rupicola is endemic to southeastern Edwards Plateau. It is the only species in the flora with flaccid, twisted leaves.
