yacca

The term "yacca" refers to certain trees within the genus Podocarpus. The genus Podocarpus is part of the Podocarpaceae family, which includes evergreen trees and shrubs primarily found in the Southern Hemisphere. These plants are characterized by their spirally arranged, flattened, needle-like leaves and seeds that are surrounded by a fleshy aril. Some species of Podocarpus, like those found in the West Indies, are specifically called yacca trees. The wood of these trees is also referred to as yacca. It is important to distinguish this from "yucca," which is a different genus of succulent plants in the asparagus family.1234