SPANISH BAYONET (Yucca aloifolia, Linn.). 10 to 25 feet. Low, usually erect tree, with short trunk breaking into several branches of equal size. Bark dark, thick, corky. Wood light, fibrous, in concentric layers. Leaves with base widening into a crescent, and bayonet-shaped blade, smooth, dark green, saw-toothed on margins, sharp and stiff at point. Long per sistent. Flowers lily-like, in panicles, white, tinged with pur ple, leathery, June till August, 3 to 4 inches across when ex panded. Fruit August to October; soft, green, cucumber-like,
turning purple, bitter-sweet, edible, 3 to 4 inches long. Dist.: Sand dunes along coast, North Carolina to Louisiana. A very common garden plant in warm and temperate countries, prized for its showy flowers and foliage, and its thriving with scant rainfall.