Origin and Habitat: Beaucarnea gracilisSN|3002]]SN|3002]] is an endemic species of the semiarid Tehuacan Valley, Puebla, Oaxaca, Mexico.

• Beaucarnea gracilis Lem.
• Dasylirion gracile (Lem.) J.F.Macbr.
• Nolina gracilis (Lem.) Cif. & Giacom.
• Pincenectitia gracilis hort. ex Lem.

• Beaucarnea gracilis Lem.
• Dasylirion gracile (Lem.) J.F.Macbr.
• Nolina gracilis (Lem.) Cif. & Giacom.
• Pincenectitia gracilis hort. ex Lem.
• Beaucarnea histrix (hort. ex Trel.)
• Nolina histrix Trel.
• Beaucarnea oedipus Rose

• Beaucarnea gracilis f. variegata hort.
• Nolina gracilis f. variegata hort.

Description: Beaucarnea gracilisSN|22884]]SN|3002]] is a small dioecious tree or large shrublike succulent species with many slender, curving vertical stems, that emerge from a large beautiful globose woody base, it is related to the well-known ponytail plant (Nolina recurvataSN|20519]]SN|20519]]). The spreading base with its corky bark of much battered appearance, resembles a giant elephant's foot. It is also related to the Tree Yuccas and branched like them at the top. It can grow up to 3-5 m in height in the ground (but sometime it can reach imposing dimension up to 12 m overall)
Stem (succulent caudex): The caudex (comprising the bulbous basal part of the trunk and the upper part of the rootstock) is enormously swollen, a large part of which is visible above ground. It is more or less circular in cross-section, with variously shaped and irregularly contorted vertical stems. The trunk is covered with much gnarled, thick and fissured grey to brown corky bark that ages into polygonal or rectangular plates that would look at home on a pine tree
Leaves: Persistent, in open rosettes, very narrow 45-50 cm long, similar to those of Beaucarnea strictaSN|3002]]SN|22884]], but thinner (3-7 mm wide versus 8-15 mm of B. sticta), grassy, stiff, with smooth grooves and very rough on the margin, nearly flat, green to glaucous bluish-green. The leaves grow from the top like a ponytail (hence the popular common name)
Flowers: Radially symmetric, numerous, very small, in a wide terminal panicle. Each flower shortly stalked and slightly fragrant. The species is dioecious (there are male and female plants), flowers every year.
Fruits: Long-pedicellate 3-winged capsules, about 9 x 9 mm broad.
Seeds: 3 mm long

Notes: It is having a hard time in the wild, since too many people are digging up the small plants to use them as ornamentals

Bibliography: Major references and further lectures
1) James Cullen, Sabina G. Knees, H. Suzanne Cubey “The European Garden Flora Flowering Plants: A Manual for the Identification of Plants Cultivated in Europe, Both Out-of-Doors and Under Glass” Cambridge University Press, 11/ago/2011
2) Carol C. Baskin, Jerry M. Baskin "Seeds: Ecology, Biogeography, and Evolution of Dormancy and Germination" Elsevier, 2001
3) Cardel,Y, Rico-gray, V, Garcia-Franco, J. & Thien, B.M, "Ecological status of Beaucarnea gracilis, an Endemic species of the Semiarid Tehuacán valley, México" in Conservation Biology, 11(2), pp. 367-374. 1997
4) Paul C. Standley "Trees and shrubs of Mexico" Volume 1 Smithsonian Institution, 1967
5) Evan Hillhouse Methven Cox “New Flora and Silva” Volume 11 Dulau & Company, limited, 1938
6) “The New Plantsman” Royal Horticultural Society, 1998
7) M.M. Grandtner "Elsevier's Dictionary of Trees: Volume 1: North America" Elsevier, 08 April 2005

Cultivation and Propagation: It is a very tolerant plant that can withstand temperatures of -5 Celsius degrees for short periods, but its exact hardiness is unknown. Because of its extreme drought tolerance, it makes a great container plant for light shade to full sun, or is an excellent foliage accent in a dry garden in warm regions. Might look its best in a vase shaped terra cotta pot to allow the leaves to drape downwards. It needs moderate water when actively growing, little water the rest of the time, if established. Outdoor it needs heavy soil with excellent drainage and circulating dry air. It is a tough plant. Having been bred to endure dry air and drought, it will survive for years in less than ideal conditions. It can stay in the same pot for a number of years since it prefers to be a bit rootbound.
Propagation: Seeds; stem cuttings. (it cannot be reproduced by leaves cuttings).