Laguna Atascosa is covered with a large yucca plant called Spanish Dagger. The plants can reach heights of 25' and have fiercely sharp leaves. We have caught the business end of these a few times and they are dangerous!
This time of year they begin to bloom. First they send up a beautiful pink bud that can be as large as 6" in diameter.
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| Spanish Dagger bud |
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| Spanish Dagger bud |
We have been told that the flowers are harvested and eaten as a delicacy in Mexico. We haven't had an opportunity to try that yet...
Mark
Never thought of eating that delicacy. Will you give it a go?
ReplyDeleteIs this the same plant they make soap from (the roots)? I'd try it if it were available... maybe like eating squash blossoms? Let us know....
ReplyDeleteWe'll give it a try and report back!
ReplyDeleteSharon - Our "Plants of Deep South Texas" book says that the roots are sold at markets in Mexico as a soap. What a great plant. You can eat it, wash with it, and poke your eye out!!
Mark
OK, we tried it!! The book says that taste varies by age of flower and even the individual plant. First we tried a flower that had just opened. The petals were thick and crunchy, sort of like an artichoke petal. There wasn't much flavor, and what there was seemed a little bitter. The second flower we tried was from an older bloom, and it was more bitter.
ReplyDeleteSo we'll probably pass on eating Spanish Dagger blossoms in the future. The book does mention that some folks fry them, and I know that everything is better fried!!
Mark
The squash blossoms I've eaten were "battered" (dipped in batter) and fried. I liked them, but I like anything fried ;-) Glad you tried the yuccas.... I'll do that one of these days.
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