| Yucca baccata Torr. Banana Yucca USDA YUBAB |
Zuni Food, Sweetener Fruit made into conserves and used as a sweetener before the introduction of coffee and sugar. Stevenson, Matilda Coxe, 1915, Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians, SI-BAE Annual Report #30, page 72 |
| Yucca baccata Torr. Banana Yucca USDA YUBAB |
Zuni Other, Ceremonial Items Narrow leaf bands worn around the head by personators of anthropic gods. The personators of anthropic gods adorned their wrists and ankles with yucca ribbons and the novitiate into the medicine order of a secret fraternity had his or her wrists adorned with them also. Stevenson, Matilda Coxe, 1915, Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians, SI-BAE Annual Report #30, page 99 |
| Yucca baccata Torr. Banana Yucca USDA YUBAB |
Zuni Other, Ceremonial Items Plant used ceremonially for a great variety of purposes. Stevenson, Matilda Coxe, 1915, Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians, SI-BAE Annual Report #30, page 99 |
| Yucca baccata Torr. Banana Yucca USDA YUBAB |
Zuni Other, Soap Roots pounded, made into suds in cold water and used for washing. Bell, Willis H and Edward F. Castetter, 1941, Ethnobiological Studies in the Southwest VII. The Utilization of of Yucca, Sotol and Beargrass by the Aborigines in the American Southwest, University of New Mexico Bulletin 5(5):1-74, page 55 |
| Yucca baccata Torr. Banana Yucca USDA YUBAB |
Zuni Other, Tools Leaves used to make cincture pads for supporting water vases upon the head. Stevenson, Matilda Coxe, 1915, Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians, SI-BAE Annual Report #30, page 78 |
| Yucca baileyi var. navajoa (J.M. Webber) J.M. Webber Navajo Yucca USDA YUBAN |
Hopi Drug, Laxative Plant used as a laxative. Colton, Harold S., 1974, Hopi History And Ethnobotany, IN D. A. Horr (ed.) Hopi Indians. Garland: New York., page 370 |
| Yucca baileyi var. navajoa (J.M. Webber) J.M. Webber Navajo Yucca USDA YUBAN |
Hopi Fiber, Basketry Leaves used in basketry. Colton, Harold S., 1974, Hopi History And Ethnobotany, IN D. A. Horr (ed.) Hopi Indians. Garland: New York., page 370 |
| Yucca baileyi var. navajoa (J.M. Webber) J.M. Webber Navajo Yucca USDA YUBAN |
Hopi Fiber, Brushes & Brooms Plant used for paint brushes. Colton, Harold S., 1974, Hopi History And Ethnobotany, IN D. A. Horr (ed.) Hopi Indians. Garland: New York., page 370 |
| Yucca baileyi var. navajoa (J.M. Webber) J.M. Webber Navajo Yucca USDA YUBAN |
Hopi Fiber, Brushes & Brooms Twigs used to make snow brooms. Colton, Harold S., 1974, Hopi History And Ethnobotany, IN D. A. Horr (ed.) Hopi Indians. Garland: New York., page 370 |
| Yucca baileyi var. navajoa (J.M. Webber) J.M. Webber Navajo Yucca USDA YUBAN |
Hopi Other, Ceremonial Items Plant used as whips in ceremonies. Colton, Harold S., 1974, Hopi History And Ethnobotany, IN D. A. Horr (ed.) Hopi Indians. Garland: New York., page 370 |
| Yucca baileyi var. navajoa (J.M. Webber) J.M. Webber Navajo Yucca USDA YUBAN |
Hopi Other, Ceremonial Items Twigs used to make the masks for the kachinas. Colton, Harold S., 1974, Hopi History And Ethnobotany, IN D. A. Horr (ed.) Hopi Indians. Garland: New York., page 370 |
| Yucca baileyi var. navajoa (J.M. Webber) J.M. Webber Navajo Yucca USDA YUBAN |
Hopi Other, Hunting & Fishing Item Plant used as an anchor for bird traps. Colton, Harold S., 1974, Hopi History And Ethnobotany, IN D. A. Horr (ed.) Hopi Indians. Garland: New York., page 370 |
| Yucca baileyi var. navajoa (J.M. Webber) J.M. Webber Navajo Yucca USDA YUBAN |
Hopi Other, Paint Juice used as a varnish for sacred kachinas. Colton, Harold S., 1974, Hopi History And Ethnobotany, IN D. A. Horr (ed.) Hopi Indians. Garland: New York., page 370 |
| Yucca baileyi var. navajoa (J.M. Webber) J.M. Webber Navajo Yucca USDA YUBAN |
Hopi Other, Soap Crushed roots used for soap. Colton, Harold S., 1974, Hopi History And Ethnobotany, IN D. A. Horr (ed.) Hopi Indians. Garland: New York., page 370 |
| Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Joshua Tree USDA YUBAB2 |
Cahuilla Fiber, Clothing Fibers used to make sandals. Bean, Lowell John and Katherine Siva Saubel, 1972, Temalpakh (From the Earth); Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants, Banning, CA. Malki Museum Press, page 150 |
| Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Joshua Tree USDA YUBAB2 |
Cahuilla Fiber, Cordage Fibers used to make nets. Bean, Lowell John and Katherine Siva Saubel, 1972, Temalpakh (From the Earth); Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants, Banning, CA. Malki Museum Press, page 150 |
| Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Joshua Tree USDA YUBAB2 |
Cahuilla Food, Unspecified Blossoms used for food. Bean, Lowell John and Katherine Siva Saubel, 1972, Temalpakh (From the Earth); Cahuilla Indian Knowledge and Usage of Plants, Banning, CA. Malki Museum Press, page 150 |
| Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Joshua Tree USDA YUBAB2 |
Kawaiisu Fiber, Basketry Dark red rootstock core used as pattern material in coiled basketry. The core was split into strands, soaked and worked in with the coiling so that the color was always on the outside. Zigmond, Maurice L., 1981, Kawaiisu Ethnobotany, Salt Lake City. University of Utah Press, page 69 |
| Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Joshua Tree USDA YUBAB2 |
Kawaiisu Food, Dried Food Fruit pit roasted, mashed, dried and stored for future use. Yucca supplies food in two forms. In the early spring, the apical meristem--the 'heart' or 'cabbage' --was removed with the aid of an oak or a juniper shaft having a shovel like cutting edge at one end. The 'cabbage' was roasted in a pit about three feet deep and perhaps five feet in diameter. A large stone was placed in the center of the pit with smaller stones radiating out from the center. Firewood--preferably Douglas oak--was thrown in and the hot fire burned for a half-day. From time to time more stones--and probably wood--were added. As the fire died down, it was covered with sand or dirt to about ground level, leaving a small aperture in the center. The sand was tapped down, causing flames to shoot out of the hole. Then a layer of dry pine needles was put on and the 'cabbages,' having been skinned, placed on top. Two or three families shared the same oven. the direction in which 'cabbages' were laid identified the owner. Another layer of dry pine needles apparently mixed with silky California broom covered the 'cabbages.' More sand or dirt, patted down and smoothed with a basketry tray, completed the mound, which would now reach a height of five feet but which settled in the roasting process. The roasting continued for two nights, during which no sexual intercourse was permitted. Otherwise it was said that 'it won't cook.' When the 'cabbages' were pulled out, they were so hot they burned the hands. They were cooled before they were eaten. To be stored, they were pulled apart, mashed a little and dried. They could not be dried or stored uncooked. After storage they were soaked and eaten. Zigmond, Maurice L., 1981, Kawaiisu Ethnobotany, Salt Lake City. University of Utah Press, page 69 |
| Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Joshua Tree USDA YUBAB2 |
Kawaiisu Food, Fruit Fruit pit roasted and eaten. Yucca supplies food in two forms. In the early spring, the apical meristem--the 'heart' or 'cabbage' --was removed with the aid of an oak or a juniper shaft having a shovel like cutting edge at one end. The 'cabbage' was roasted in a pit about three feet deep and perhaps five feet in diameter. A large stone was placed in the center of the pit with smaller stones radiating out from the center. Firewood--preferably Douglas oak--was thrown in and the hot fire burned for a half-day. From time to time more stones--and probably wood--were added. As the fire died down, it was covered with sand or dirt to about ground level, leaving a small aperture in the center. The sand was tapped down, causing flames to shoot out of the hole. Then a layer of dry pine needles was put on and the 'cabbages,' having been skinned, placed on top. Two or three families shared the same oven. the direction in which 'cabbages' were laid identified the owner. Another layer of dry pine needles apparently mixed with silky California broom covered the 'cabbages.' More sand or dirt, patted down and smoothed with a basketry tray, completed the mound, which would now reach a height of five feet but which settled in the roasting process. The roasting continued for two nights, during which no sexual intercourse was permitted. Otherwise it was said that 'it won't cook.' When the 'cabbages' were pulled out, they were so hot they burned the hands. They were cooled before they were eaten. To be stored, they were pulled apart, mashed a little and dried. They could not be dried or stored uncooked. After storage they were soaked and eaten. Zigmond, Maurice L., 1981, Kawaiisu Ethnobotany, Salt Lake City. University of Utah Press, page 69 |
| Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Joshua Tree USDA YUBAB2 |
Panamint Other, Designs Red-brown inner roots used for basket designs. Kirk, R.E., 1952, Panamint Basketry, Masterkey 26(76-86):, page 78 |
| Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Joshua Tree USDA YUBAB2 |
Shoshoni Dye, Black Roots used as black dye in basketry. Murphey, Edith Van Allen, 1990, Indian Uses of Native Plants, Glenwood, Ill. Meyerbooks. Originally published in 1959, page 8 |
| Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Joshua Tree USDA YUBAB2 |
Shoshoni Dye, Red Roots used as red dye in basketry. Murphey, Edith Van Allen, 1990, Indian Uses of Native Plants, Glenwood, Ill. Meyerbooks. Originally published in 1959, page 8 |
| Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Joshua Tree USDA YUBAB2 |
Shoshoni Fiber, Basketry Roots used to make baskets. Merriam, C. Hart, 1966, Ethnographic Notes on California Indian Tribes, University of California Archaeological Research Facility, Berkeley, page 445 |
| Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Joshua Tree USDA YUBAB2 |
Southwest Indians Fiber, Clothing Made into cords and used as base for fur robe garments. Bell, Willis H and Edward F. Castetter, 1941, Ethnobiological Studies in the Southwest VII. The Utilization of of Yucca, Sotol and Beargrass by the Aborigines in the American Southwest, University of New Mexico Bulletin 5(5):1-74, page 43 |
| Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Joshua Tree USDA YUBAB2 |
Southwest Indians Food, Fruit Fruits eaten for food. Bell, Willis H and Edward F. Castetter, 1941, Ethnobiological Studies in the Southwest VII. The Utilization of of Yucca, Sotol and Beargrass by the Aborigines in the American Southwest, University of New Mexico Bulletin 5(5):1-74, page 63 |
| Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Joshua Tree USDA YUBAB2 |
Southwest Indians Other, Designs Roots used to make brown designs. Bell, Willis H and Edward F. Castetter, 1941, Ethnobiological Studies in the Southwest VII. The Utilization of of Yucca, Sotol and Beargrass by the Aborigines in the American Southwest, University of New Mexico Bulletin 5(5):1-74, page 35 |
| Yucca brevifolia Engelm. Joshua Tree USDA YUBAB2 |
Tubatulabal Food, Unspecified Immature pods used for food. Voegelin, Ermine W., 1938, Tubatulabal Ethnography, Anthropological Records 2(1):1-84, page 16 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache Food, Unspecified Species used for food. Bell, Willis H and Edward F. Castetter, 1941, Ethnobiological Studies in the Southwest VII. The Utilization of of Yucca, Sotol and Beargrass by the Aborigines in the American Southwest, University of New Mexico Bulletin 5(5):1-74, page 64 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache Food, Vegetable Flowers boiled and eaten as a vegetable. Bell, Willis H and Edward F. Castetter, 1941, Ethnobiological Studies in the Southwest VII. The Utilization of of Yucca, Sotol and Beargrass by the Aborigines in the American Southwest, University of New Mexico Bulletin 5(5):1-74, page 19 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Chiricahua & Mescalero Fiber, Basketry Leaves woven into shallow or tray baskets to carry prepared mescal home. Castetter, Edward F. and M. E. Opler, 1936, Ethnobiological Studies in the American Southwest III. The Ethnobiology of the Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache, University of New Mexico Bulletin 4(5):1-63, page 37 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Chiricahua & Mescalero Food, Dried Food Stems baked overnight, dried, broken into pieces, softened and eaten. Castetter, Edward F. and M. E. Opler, 1936, Ethnobiological Studies in the American Southwest III. The Ethnobiology of the Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache, University of New Mexico Bulletin 4(5):1-63, page 38 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Chiricahua & Mescalero Food, Vegetable Flowers boiled and eaten as a vegetable. Castetter, Edward F. and M. E. Opler, 1936, Ethnobiological Studies in the American Southwest III. The Ethnobiology of the Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache, University of New Mexico Bulletin 4(5):1-63, page 39 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Mescalero Food, Dried Food Flowers boiled, dried and stored for future food use. Basehart, Harry W., 1974, Apache Indians XII. Mescalero Apache Subsistence Patterns and Socio-Political Organization, New York. Garland Publishing Inc., page 40 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Mescalero Food, Dried Food Trunks pit cooked, dried and stored for future food use. Basehart, Harry W., 1974, Apache Indians XII. Mescalero Apache Subsistence Patterns and Socio-Political Organization, New York. Garland Publishing Inc., page 40 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Mescalero Food, Soup Flowers used as fresh vegetables in soups. Basehart, Harry W., 1974, Apache Indians XII. Mescalero Apache Subsistence Patterns and Socio-Political Organization, New York. Garland Publishing Inc., page 40 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Mescalero Food, Staple Trunks pit cooked, pounded and made into flour. Basehart, Harry W., 1974, Apache Indians XII. Mescalero Apache Subsistence Patterns and Socio-Political Organization, New York. Garland Publishing Inc., page 40 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Mescalero Food, Unspecified Young stalks cooked, peeled and eaten hot. Basehart, Harry W., 1974, Apache Indians XII. Mescalero Apache Subsistence Patterns and Socio-Political Organization, New York. Garland Publishing Inc., page 40 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Western Drug, Ceremonial Medicine Peeled stalk shaped like a short snake, heated, eaten by a practitioner and spit at the sick. Buskirk, Winfred, 1986, The Western Apache: Living With the Land Before 1950, Norman. University of Oklahoma Press, page 182 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Western Fiber, Cordage Leaves used to make cordage. Buskirk, Winfred, 1986, The Western Apache: Living With the Land Before 1950, Norman. University of Oklahoma Press, page 182 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Western Fiber, Furniture Leaves used for the headshade of cradleboards. Buskirk, Winfred, 1986, The Western Apache: Living With the Land Before 1950, Norman. University of Oklahoma Press, page 182 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Western Food, Dried Food Boiled blossoms dried and stored in a dry place. Buskirk, Winfred, 1986, The Western Apache: Living With the Land Before 1950, Norman. University of Oklahoma Press, page 182 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Western Food, Unspecified Blossoms boiled with seeds, fat or bones. Buskirk, Winfred, 1986, The Western Apache: Living With the Land Before 1950, Norman. University of Oklahoma Press, page 182 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Western Food, Unspecified Blossoms used for food. Buskirk, Winfred, 1986, The Western Apache: Living With the Land Before 1950, Norman. University of Oklahoma Press, page 193 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Western Food, Unspecified Stalk charred and eaten like sugar cane. Buskirk, Winfred, 1986, The Western Apache: Living With the Land Before 1950, Norman. University of Oklahoma Press, page 182 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Western Other, Decorations Red roots used in basket decorations. Buskirk, Winfred, 1986, The Western Apache: Living With the Land Before 1950, Norman. University of Oklahoma Press, page 183 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Apache, Western Other, Soap Roots used for soap. Buskirk, Winfred, 1986, The Western Apache: Living With the Land Before 1950, Norman. University of Oklahoma Press, page 183 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Navajo Other, Ceremonial Items Leaves made into scourges and used in the Night Chant. A leaf was taken from the east side of the plant and one from the west. The leaves were then split in two and the interchanged halves bound together to form the scourge. These scourges were carried by the different personators in the Night Chant. Elmore, Francis H., 1944, Ethnobotany of the Navajo, Sante Fe, NM. School of American Research, page 33 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Navajo Other, Soap Roots used for soap. Elmore, Francis H., 1944, Ethnobotany of the Navajo, Sante Fe, NM. School of American Research, page 33 |
| Yucca elata (Engelm.) Engelm. Soaptree Yucca USDA YUELE |
Navajo Other, Toys & Games Used to make the 102 counting sticks for the moccasin game. Elmore, Francis H., 1944, Ethnobotany of the Navajo, Sante Fe, NM. School of American Research, page 33 |