Common Names: BROAD-LEAF YUCCAS, SPANISH BAYONET, (_AMOLE_), (_DATIL_), SOAPWEED Arizona desert. (_Yucca arizonica_). Creamy. April-May. California desert. (_Yucca schidigera_). White-purple. March-April. Texas desert. (_Yucca torreyi_). Creamy. March-April. Lily family. Size: Reaches height of 10 to 15 feet. Although, in general, the Broad-leafed Yuccas do not reach tree size, the Giant Dagger (_Yucca carnerosana_) of Big Bend National Park reaches a height of 20 feet. In dense stands or “forests” these Yuccas, with their huge clusters of creamy, wax-like, lightly scented, bell-shaped flowers produce a never-to-be-forgotten display in blooming season. The Yucca is the state flower of New Mexico. Yuccas are often confused by newcomers to the desert with three other groups of plants: the _Agaves_ (Century Plant), _Dasylirion_ (Sotol) and _Nolinas_ (Beargrass). The plate on the opposite page has been devoted to a comparison of the four groups, and by studying it carefully, the characteristics by which each may be identified can be determined. Yucca leaf fibers have long been used by Indians for fabricating rope, matting, sandals, basketry, and coarse cloth. Indians also ate the buds, flowers, and emerging flower stalks. The large, pulpy fruits were eaten raw or roasted, and the seeds ground into meal. Roots of the Yuccas have saponifying properties and are still gathered by some tribes and used as soap, especially for washing the hair. Flowers are browsed by livestock. (See Narrow-leaf Yuccas and Joshua-tree). _Yucca baccata_, a broad-leaf species found in the Southwest outside of the desert areas, is discussed in “Flowers of the Southwest Mesas.” CREAM Common Names: BEARGRASS, BASKETGRASS, (_SACAHUISTE_) Arizona desert: (_Nolina microcarpa_). Tan-cream. May-June. California desert: (_Nolina parryi_). White-cream. May-June. Texas desert: (_Nolina erumpens_). White-cream. May-June. Lily family. Size: Ragged clumps 4 to 8 feet in diameter and flower stalks up to 8 feet high. The _Nolinas_ are sometimes confused with Sotol and the _Yuccas_ and occasionally with the _Agaves_. However, the _Nolinas_ resemble huge clumps of long-bladed grass, whereas Sotol leaves are ribbon-like and _Yucca_ leaves taper to a sharp point. Flower stalks of the _Nolinas_ are usually drooping and plume-like, and the numerous flowers are tiny. The many papery, dry-winged fruits often remain on the stalk until late autumn.