Yucca campestris

Plants forming small or large, open colonies, acaulescent or occasionally caulescent and arborescent, rhizomatous; rosettes usually small. Stems 0.6-1 m. Leaf blade linear, plano-convex or plano-keeled, widest near middle, 40-65 × 0.3-0.7(-1.5) cm, rigid, margins entire, filiferous, white, apex spinose, spine acicular, 7 mm. Inflorescences paniculate, arising within or occasionally beyond rosettes, narrowly ellipsoid, 6-10 dm, distance from leaf tips to proximal inflorescence branches less than twice leaf length when fully expanded, glabrous; branches to 13 cm; bracts erect; peduncle scapelike, 0.5-1 m, less than 2.5 cm diam. Flowers pendent; perianth globose; tepals connate, dull green, sometimes tinged pink, 4.1-6.5 × 1.5-2.5 cm; filaments shorter than pistil, flaccid; anthers 3.2 mm; pistil ovoid to obovoid, 2.5-3 × 0.5-0.9 cm; style bright green; stigmas lobed. Fruits erect, capsular, dehiscent, symmetrical or rarely constricted, 4.5-5.5(-6.3) × 3-5 cm, dehiscence septicidal. Seeds glossy black, thin, 11-14 × 8-11 mm.

Flowering spring. Deep sands; 800--900 m; Tex.

Yucca campestris is endemic to the plains region in the southern panhandle counties of western Texas. S. D. McKelvey (1938-1947) discussed its variation in relation to its distribution, and K. H. Clary´s (1997) DNA studies support its recognition as a distinct species. J. M. Webber (1953) considered Y. campestris to be a hybrid between Y. constricta and Y. elata, and reported a distribution from west Texas into southern New Mexico, and possibly into northwestern New Mexico. Additional study within these regions may help resolve the relationships and origin of this species.