Angiosperms: Monocotyledons

Agavaceae
Yucca Family

• Stem: perennial; basal leaves and a tall flower stalk to 5’ tall.
• Leaves: basal; numerous; linear, gradually tapering to a spine-tip; 1’ to 2’ by 1/2”; threads on the margins; smooth above and below.
• Inflorescence: raceme at the tip of the flower stalk; raceme 6” to 2’ long; each flower attached to the flower stalk above a bract, 1” long, lance-shaped.
• Flowers: petals and sepals white, large (1 1/2” long), forming a cup-shaped flower; on a curved stalk, the flower facing downward; flowering from early to mid-June.
• Fruits: capsule, 1 1/2” to 2” long by 1” in diameter, held upright; three-chambered with many flat, black seeds; fruiting begins in late June.
• Habitat: frequent on west- and south-facing Loess Hills prairies in the western tier of counties in Iowa.
• Notes: Soapweed is pollinated by night-flying moths who use the ovary of the flower as the site to lay their eggs. The young larvae eat the developing seeds.
• Bibliography from Biodiversity Heritage Library
• Vascular Plants of Iowa