One plant that we saw absolutely everywhere in Big Bend National Park was the Beaked Yucca. Nearly as common as cacti, these little fan-shaped trees were dotted all across the open desert plains as well as the mountain ridges in Big Bend. At first I wondered if they might be some sort of baby palm trees since their leaves were spread in a similar fashion and looked roughly the same color and shape. While some Yucca can grow into trees 12-15 feet in height, much like palm trees, the yucca is much more native to the area. This has given it its alternate name: Big Bend Yucca.
Not to be confused with the yuca root used in Latin american cuisine, the yucca is a sturdy plant that can handle the extremes of the desert habitat of Big Bend and the surrounding Chihuahua and Coahuila regions in Mexico. It does well on the rocky slopes of the area, withstanding the intense heat and ecological pressures of such an unforgiving environment. Comfortable in its native home, the beaked yucca was a common sight throughout our hikes in Big Bend.
Source: http://www.smgrowers.com/products/plants/plantdisplay.asp?plant_id=1627
iNaturalist Link: http://www.inaturalist.org/observations/5977411