Whiterim Yucca

Very little is known about Yucca tenuistyla, and further study is needed. Along with Y. louisianensis, it was treated by S. D. McKelvey (1938–1947) as a part of Y. constricta. The characteristics separating these three taxa are tenuous, and it is possible that Y. tenuistyla is just a variant of Y. flaccida, which includes Y. louisianensis.

Plants forming open colonies, acaulescent or short-caulescent; rosettes usually small. Stems erect, to 0.5 m. Leaf blade mostly recurving, lanceolate, plano-convex, widest near middle, 40–70 × 1–2 cm, rigid, margins entire, filiferous, whitish, apex scarcely pungent. Inflorescences paniculate, arising beyond rosettes, ovoid, to 10 dm, distance from leaf tips to proximal inflorescence branches more than twice leaf length when fully expanded, glabrous or slightly pubescent; bracts erect; peduncle scapelike, 1–1.7 m, less than 2.5 cm diam. Flowers pendent; tepals narrow, apex acute; filaments shorter than pistil; pistil 1.5–3.8 cm; ovary white; style white or green, oblong, often deeply lobed; stigmas lobed. Fruits erect, capsular, dehiscent, cylindrical, symmetrical, not constricted, stout, 5–6.5 × 2.5–3 cm, dehiscence septicidal. Seeds glossy black, thin, 8–10 × 7–8 mm.

Tex.

Flowering spring.

Brushlands to coast; 0--200m.

Yucca tenuistyla is a species of flowering plant in the family Asparagaceae found in brushlands near the coast of Texas, at elevations below 200 m (650 feet). Common names include white-rimmed yucca and whiterim yucca.

Yucca tenuistyla is a short, acaulescent (trunkless) species forming colonies of rosettes. Leaves can be up to 70 cm (28 inches) long but only 2 cm (0.8 inches) wide. The flowering stalk can be up to 100 cm (33 inches) tall, bearing many pendant flowers. Fruits are dry, with glossy black seeds.