File:Narrowleaf Yucca Blossoms (34920628044).jpg

NPS/Patrick Myers This showy plant is not only beautiful in bloom, but historically also very useful and edible! Regional tribes and settlers have made use of this plant in many ways: - The flowers are very nutritious, and taste like a spicy lettuce. - For wounds requiring surgery far from a hospital, a leaf is picked, and the fibers below the sharp needle at the end of the leaf threshed out until they are thread-like. Yuccas are naturally antibiotic, so when used in combination with pine sap or juniper berries, a wound is sewn closed and protected with naturally antibiotic plant extracts. - Leaves are also woven into baskets and sandals. - The thick roots contain a naturally soapy body wash/shampoo. Many shampoo brands today still use yucca root extract.