Yucca brevifolia Engelm.
Joshua tree
It is hard to believe, but Joshua trees are yuccas. The common name is often said to derive from a group of Mormon settlers, one of whom felt that the tree’s upward-pointing branches reminded him of a biblical story about Joshua, arms upraised in prayer. However, this story has not been corroborated. These trees are natives of the southwestern United States.
Plants: Joshua trees are found alone or in groves on desert plains, slopes and mesas in the Mojave Desert, or Queen Valley and Lost Horse Valley in Joshua Tree National Park. Trees are 15–40′ (4.6–12 m) high, and 1–3′ (30–91 cm) around.
Leaves: Linear, bayonet-shaped, 6–14 ⨉ ¼–½″ (15–35 cm ⨉ 7–15 mm) at the base. Leaf edges are serrate, and taper to sharp points.
Flowers: Bell-shaped, cream-colored blossoms are 1¼–1½″ (3.2–3.8 cm) around. They occur in dense clusters up to 1½′ (45 cm) long.
Fruits: Fruits are light brown to reddish capsules, 2½–5 ⨉ 2″ (6.3–12 ⨉ 5 cm), with six cells.
Habitats: In southwestern US deserts, especially the Mojave.
See the Yucca page for a comparison with other yuccas.
Photo by Takwish, taken in the Mojave Desert near Kramer Junction, CA, 3/11/2008. 
Online References:
Wikimedia Commons (extensive photos)
CalPhotos at the University of California, Berkeley (more photos)
References:
Irish, Mary & Irish, Gary, Agaves, Yuccas and Related Plants: A Gardener’s Guide, Timber Press, 2000, p. 239
5/3/2018 · Joshua Tree National Park, California 
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California 
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd, Joshua Tree National Park, California · By Susan M. Kent 
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd, Joshua Tree National Park, California 
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California 
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park 
Teddy bear cholla is in the foreground. · 1/5/2026 · Joshua Tree National Park, California · By Constance B. Kent 
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California 
Daytime Moon · 5/3/2018 · Park Blvd, Joshua Tree National Park · By Susan M. Kent 
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd, Joshua Tree National Park, California · By Susan M. Kent 
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California · ≈ 8 × 12″ (20 × 31 cm) 
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California 
A baby joshua tree. · 5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park 
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park 
4/29/2018 · Red Spring Calico Basin, Red Rock Canyon, Nevada 
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California · By Susan M. Kent 
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California 
4/30/2018 · Kelbaker Road, Mojave National Preserve, California 
5/3/2018 · Park Blvd., Joshua Tree National Park 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Liliopsida | Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family |
| Subclass | Liliidae | Includes lilies, orchids, and many others |
| Order | Asparagales | A diverse group that includes asparagus |
| Family | Asparagaceae | Agaves, asparagus, hyacinths, and others |
| Genus | Yucca | Linnaeus mistakenly derived the genus name from the Carib word for (similar-appearing) cassava, yuca |
| Species | brevifolia | With short leaves |
Yucca brevifolia description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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