Beaucarnea recurvata
Lem.
Asparagaceae
Beaucarnea inermis (S.Watson) Rose
Beaucarnea tuberculata Roezl.
Dasylirion inerme S.Watson
Dasylirion recurvatum (Lem.) J.F.Macbr.
Nolina recurvata (Lem.) Hemsl.
Pincenectitia tuberculata Lem.
Common Name: Elephant Foot Tree
Cultivated trees at Huntington Gardens, Los Angeles
Photograph by: Raffi Kojian
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Cultivated trees at Huntington Gardens, Los Angeles
Photograph by: Raffi Kojian
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Flowering heavily in the arid zone of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens
Photograph by: Brisbane City Council
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
A street tree in Lisbon
Photograph by: Madalena Pestana
Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
Young plants quickly develop their swollen base
Photograph by: Pluume321
Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0
Plants can resprout if cut down.
Photograph by: Chris Green
Public domain
General Information
Elephant foot tree is a very slow-growing evergreen shrub or tree producing in time a sparsely branched bole up to 8 metres tall, topped with a rosette of leaves up to 2 metres long[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
411- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The bole is flask-shaped, swollen at the base, where it can be 2 metres in diameter[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
The leaves are harvested from the wild for local use as a source of fibre, thatch etc.
Known Hazards
None known
Botanical References
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
Range
Central America - central and southern Mexico.
Habitat
Semi deserts[
423- Title
- Desert Tropicals
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
Properties
| Edibility Rating |  |
| Other Uses Rating |  |
| Habit | Evergreen Tree |
| Height | 8.00 m |
| Growth Rate | Slow |
| Cultivation Status | Wild |
Cultivation Details
A plant of the arid and semi-arid tropics. Plants can tolerate occasional temperatures down to about -5°c, older plants can survive even lower temperatures[
423- Title
- Desert Tropicals
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.desert-tropicals.com/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- The main focus of the site is succulent plants, but it also contains information on a wide range of other species. Usually at least one good photograph, plus basic information about the plant and its cultivation.
].
Requires a position in full sun or light shade[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
309- Title
- Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
- Publisher
- University of Florida
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
]. Succeeds in a wide range of soils so long as they are well-drained[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
309- Title
- Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
- Publisher
- University of Florida
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
]. Established plants are very drought tolerant[
309- Title
- Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
- Publisher
- University of Florida
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
].
The plant usually only flowers in advanced maturity, but then it can flower 2 - 3 times a year[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
,
309- Title
- Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences, University of Florida
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/shrubs/
- Publisher
- University of Florida
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- PDF fact sheets on over 500 shrubs.
]. The flowers are produced in panicles about 1 metre long[
200- Title
- The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Huxley. A.
- Publisher
- MacMillan Press
- Year
- 1992
- ISBN
- 0-333-47494-5
- Description
- Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
A dioecious species, both male and female forms need to be grown if seed is required[
385- Title
- Bihrmann's Caudiciforms
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.bihrmann.com/caudiciforms/
- Publisher
-
- Year
- 0
- ISBN
-
- Description
- An internet site giving information on caudiciform plants (plants with swollen stem bases such as the Baobab tree, cycads and many succulents). Excellent photos, usually of cultivated plants in pots.
].
Edible Uses
It is said that the trunks are sometimes roasted and the interior portion eaten[
411- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Medicinal
None known
Other Uses
The leaves are very tough[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
411- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. They are used for thatching, making brooms, caskets, coarse hats, mats, etc[
46- Title
- Dictionary of Economic Plants.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Uphof. J. C. Th.
- Publisher
- Weinheim
- Year
- 1959
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- An excellent and very comprehensive guide but it only gives very short descriptions of the uses without any details of how to utilize the plants. Not for the casual reader.
,
411- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The fibre is used locally for cordage[
411- Title
- Trees and Shrubs of Mexico
- Publication
- Contributions from the United States National Herbarium Vol 23
- Author
- Standley P.C.
- Publisher
- Smithsonian Institution; Washington
- Year
- 1926
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Although dated, it contains a wealth of information on the trees and shrubs of Mexico, including many of their uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
Propagation
Seed -
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Useful Tropical Plants Database 2014 by
Ken Fern,
web interface by
Ajna Fern
with help from
Richard Morris.
