Agavaceae

soapweed yucca

Yucca glauca Nutt.

Indigenous Names: hupȟéstola, Comanche (documented ethnobotanical use), Apache (documented ethnobotanical use), Si:cene:woxu (Meaning: “Stretched Medicine Grass”), Wisi, Pisa-wisi, Hestahpano?e, Kaw-tzee-atzo-tee-a Ol-po-on-a Kee-aw-gee-tzot-ha’-a’h

Habitat: Dry, open sites; plains to foothills; southern Alberta, Canada to New Mexico; Dry, open sites, plains to foothills; southern Alberta to New Mexico; Upland prairies, plains, sandy blowouts, hillsides, often in limestone soils Plants Parts Harvested: Plant; Upland prairies, plains, sandy blowouts, hillsides, often in limestone soils Plants Parts Harvested: Root; Upland prairies, plains, sandy blowouts, hillsides, often in limestone soils Plants Parts Harvested: Central stalk or spike

Seasonality: Not given

Status: Native

Traditional Food Use

nan | Comanche

Flowers and fruits eaten cooked. | Apache: Flowers and fruits eaten cooked; stalks sometimes roasted.

Ute

Used as food

Kiowa

Ate the central spike

Medicinal Documentation

nan | Comanche

Roots used as soap and skin cleanser. | Apache: Roots used as soap and for skin conditions.

Cheyenne

Yucca root, dried, was boiled in preparing shampoo because it was thought to stimulate hair growth, be good for dandruff, and prevent baldness

Cheyenne

Yucca seems to offer other benefits to the skin as well, being used for various outbreaks, poison ivy, sores, and scabs. In this way, the root was pulverized, mixed with an unknown medicine, and applied as a powder or wash.

Kiowa

Plant used for dandruff, baldness, and skin irritations.

Ceremonial & Cultural Notes

nan | Comanche

Cleansing rituals. | Apache: Cleansing and purification practices.

Arapaho

Commentary: No recorded use for the plant.

Ute

Used as soap Also referred to as soap weed.

Cheyenne

Artifacts/Material use: Leaves used to make baskets

Botanical Reference

Parts Documented: Not specified in the literature, Fruit and blossoms, Root, leaves

Distribution: Dry, open sites; plains to foothills; southern Alberta, Canada to New Mexico

View on USDA Plants Database ↗