Chaparral Yucca

Scientific: Hesperoyucca whipplei 

Common: Chaparral Yucca 

Español: Maguey, Mescal, Quiote 

Chumash ('alapkaswa'): pox, wɨp, stakuk, meq 

Chumash in the Santa Barbara area called the whole plant “pox”, including most parts of the plant meant to be eaten raw, except the dry flower stock (“meq”) and the green flower stock (“stakuk”). Parts of the plant that were cooked are called “wɨp.” 

Used primarily as a food plant, it was roasted in a pit until tender. Leaves of the plant were occasionally spun into string used on several items including clothing and fishing line. Yucca thorns were used in one reported case to pierce ears, although the Chumash most often used cactus thorns. Dry yucca flower stalks were used as tinder to start fires. Charcoal from burned yucca heads was used to create the pigment in tattoos. 

Source: Chumash Ethnobotany: Plant Knowledge Among the Chumash People of Southern California by Jan Timbrook

'alapkaswa' refers to the local Chumash dialect spoken at the kaswa’ village near modern Hope Ranch.