Photograph of two blossoming yuccas (Yucca whipplei), with superimposed triangle framing the plants, [s.d.]. Two flowers with thick, spiny stems emerge from rounded bushes of long, thick grass at center. The tops of the flowers are covered in tiny, lightly-colored blossoms. Short bushes which resemble clouds of thin, stiff stems blanket the surrounding earth while desert terrain and mountains can be seen in the background. Photoprint reads "Center triangle".; "The genus Yucca is one of the most remarkable groups of flowering plants native to the New World. It includes about 40 species, most of which occur in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Although they are often associated with arid desert regions, some species are native to the southeastern United States and the Caribbean islands. What truly sets this genus apart from other flowering plants is their unique method of pollination: A specific moth that is genetically programmed for stuffing a little ball of pollen into the cup-shaped stigma of each flower. Like fig wasps and acacia ants, the relationship is mutually beneficial to both partners, and is vital for the survival of both plant and insect. In fact, yuccas cultivated in the Old World, where yucca moths are absent, will not produce seeds unless they are hand pollinated." -- unknown author.
California Historical Society Collection, 1860-1960
