Fungus infection

Eastern Deciduous Forest and Tall Grass Prairie

Common Name: Soapweed yucca

Genus and Species Names: Yucca glauca and Yucca arkansana

Habitat: Glades, open rocky woods, and roadsides, and loess hill prairies

Seasons: Yucca roots are available year round (perennial).

Medicinal uses: Use crushed yucca roots to create anti-fungal soap.

Preparation: First, dig for yucca roots and peel the outer layer of the root off. Then, crush the peeled roots (will cause them to make suds) and apply to infected area as a soap. When watered is added, it lathers up. 

Active Chemical Ingredient: Solanine

Chemical Formula: C₄₅H₇₃NO₁₅

Chemical Structure:

  

Resources:

Foster, S., & Duke, J. (n.d.). Peterson field guide to medicinal plants and herbs of eastern and central North America (Third ed.).
Yuccas (Spanish Bayonet; Soapweed; Adam's Needle). (n.d.). Retrieved September 8, 2015, from http://mdc.mo.gov/discover-nature/field-guide/yuccas-spanish-bayonet-soapweed-adam-s-needle
NPIN: Native Plant Database. (n.d.). Retrieved September 8, 2015, from http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=YUGL
Investigation. (n.d.). Retrieved September 8, 2015, from http://tolweb.org/treehouses/?treehouse_id=4591
Chevallier, A., & Keifer, D. (2010). Herbal remedies. New York: Metro Books.
(n.d.). Retrieved September 9, 2015, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solanine
Result Filters. (n.d.). Retrieved September 9, 2015, from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17615670