desert - 1986

Mojave Yucca (Yucca schidigera) on the wayside of Nevada State Road 160 west of Las Vegas. One of the important "yucca complex" of native foods it was roasted and eaten. Its flowers are sweet and were also eaten as ma-huve-gar. Strong leaf fibers were used for weaving, sewing and fastening into garments and sandals. Pith was used for soap and shampoo and the leaves made a slow match for "relocating" fire. The food and fibers could also be stored.

scanned slide, Minolta X700