The yucca plant was named the state flower of New Mexico in 1927, but lawmakers did not specify which species. Yucca elata or Yucca glauca are believed to be the intended species. Yucca plants have been used for soap, fiber for baskets and mats, and as an edible source of nutrition. The unique pollination system of the yucca plant is carried out by a yucca moth, and the plant’s fruit and stems are also edible.
The flowers of the yucca plant were named the flower of New Mexico in 1927 following requests from girls’ clubs and suggestions from state school children. New Mexico lawmakers did not specify which of the 40 or 50 yucca species would serve as New Mexico’s state flower. Botanists commonly believe that Yucca elata or Yucca glauca was intended as the state flower of New Mexico.
Official records making yucca the state flower of New Mexico refer to early pioneers using yucca leaves and roots as soap. Both elata and glauca species contain soapy substances in their stems or roots. Elata is also called soap tree yucca, while glauca is known as soap grass. Parts of these plants were used to cleanse the body, wash hair and wash clothes.
The New Mexico state flower is known for its unique pollination system, carried out by a tiny yucca moth. This insect transfers pollen from one flower to another by pushing a ball of pollen into the stigmas of individual flowers. The yucca moth then lays a flowering egg, with the larvae eating some of the seeds after hatching. Both the moth and the yucca plant depend on this pollination technique for survival.
Yucca plants contain fibers in sword-shaped leaves with spines at the ends. New Mexico natives used the fiber to make baskets, mats, fishing nets, and sandals. Natural yucca leaves made baskets with a yellowish-green tinge. Native Americans used a natural dye from the root to add red to designs. The black patterns came from other native plants.
The blooms of the New Mexico state flower are an edible source of nutrition. The flowers are harvested as soon as they begin to open when they taste best. These pure white flowers emerge from a tall, erect stem. Each flower contains six petals, with a stigma in the center.
The yucca fruit also provided a food source for Native Americans. It has been cooked or ground into a powder used in flatbreads. The sweet fruit has been compared to figs and commonly used as a laxative. Yucca root was used to wash hair and kill parasites.
Yucca stems are another edible part of the species. They must be harvested early in the flowering season before they become woody. The stems contain carbohydrates and saponins, a chemical that acts as an antioxidant in the body. Parts of the yucca were also used in ceremonial rites to cure diseases.
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