Asparagaceae (asparagus family) Beaucarnea

Beaucarnea recurvata elephant-foot tree

Mexico
Nolina recurvata (syn.)
Newly planted Beaucarnea recurvata in the Inner Quad, replacing a mature California fan palm in that spot. Sairus Patel, 6 Jan 2023

There is a 7-foot individual in the Arizona Cactus Garden near the boojum tree; it may reach 30 feet. The narrow, slightly recurved leaves approach 3 feet in length. It is expected to develop an expanded conical base; it will then be interesting to compare it with the Yucca filifera nearby. A 15-foot tree in the inner southeast circle of the Inner Quad, long taken as Y. schottii, is N. matapensis, which was collected in Mexico by Stanford botanist Ira Wiggins and published in 1940.

Illustrations: gallery.

About this Entry: The main text of this entry is from the book Trees of Stanford and Environs, by Ronald Bracewell, published 2005. Genus updated to Beaucarnea and family to Asparagaceae (Dec 2017, SP). Removed mention of var. intermedia; clarified native range (Apr 2023, SP).