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You are here >1Up Info > Wildlife, Animals, and Plants > Plant Species > Shrub > Species: Yucca whipplei | Our Lord's Candle
 

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SPECIES: Yucca whipplei | Our Lord's Candle
ABBREVIATION : YUCWHI SYNONYMS : Hesperoyucca whipplei (Torr.) Baker Yucca newberryi McKelvey SCS PLANT CODE : YUWH COMMON NAMES : Our Lord's candle chaparral yucca quixote yucca TAXONOMY : The currently accepted scientific name of Our Lord's candle is Yucca whipplei Torr. The Yucca genus is described as both variable and unstable [46]. Natural hybridization is common, and numerous intermediate forms occur [45]. The yuccas have received only limited attention from past researchers, and many taxonomic questions remain [11]. Our Lord's candle is a particularly difficult group. Earlier researchers suggested placing this taxonomic entity in a separate genus, Hesperoyucca, to accomodate its unique range of characters [5]. However, modern taxonomists have retained this group within the Yucca genus as Yucca whipplei. In many areas, hybridization and gene flow occur freely across populations, while in other areas, populations are isolated by geographic barriers [18]. As a result, this species exhibits much variation in growth habit, general ecology, reproductive strategies, phenology, and gross morphology. Modern taxonomists have identified five or more distinct subspecies [5,17]; numerous ecotypes also occur [18]. Currently recognized subspecies are as follows [17,31]: Yucca whipplei ssp. caespitosa Jones Yucca whipplei ssp. intermedia Haines Yucca whipplei ssp. percursa Haines Yucca whipplei ssp. parishii Yucca whipplei ssp. whipplei A number of researchers also recognize the following subspecies [18,45]: Yucca whipplei ssp. peninsularis (McKelvey) Webber Yucca whipplei ssp. eremica Haines and Epling Yucca whipplei ssp. newberryi (McKelvey) Webber However, several of these taxa occur in isolated parts of northern Mexico and have not been well studied [18]. Very little is known about morphological characteristics used to delineate these groups. Controversy still surrounds the five most widely recognized subspecies. The subspecies whipplei was formerly known as typica [13], and some confusion still exists in older published accounts. McKelvey [28] considered typica and parishii to warrant recognition as varieties rather than as subspecies, although many later researchers delineated them as valid subspecies. Researchers have noted much variation throughout all subspecies and hint that many morphological characteristics are not "taxonomically reliable" [13]. However, many taxonomists recommend maintaining these five subspecies for the following reasons [18]: (1) each entity occupies a fairly definite geographic area (2) individual morphological characteristics are variable, but overall, statistically different morphs do exist (3) all are in common use in the literature Clearly, much more research is needed to fully document variation of this species and to determine appropriate taxonomic relationships. LIFE FORM : Shrub FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS : No special status OTHER STATUS : NO-ENTRY COMPILED BY AND DATE : D. Tirmenstein, April 1989 LAST REVISED BY AND DATE : NO-ENTRY AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION : Tirmenstein, D. A. 1989. Yucca whipplei. In: Remainder of Citation

Related categories for Species: Yucca whipplei | Our Lord's Candle

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Information Courtesy: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Fire Effects Information System

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