Sotol Plant for cane or walking stick

[Kenny_S]

Have any of the Southwesterners used the Flowery stalk of the sotol plant for a walking stick or cane? Know it grows in abundance in Big Bend National Park but is it outlawed/banned for taking. Know that the Indians used the plant for food, Looks to be fiberest and light weight and after it is dried, appears to be strong. Seen one dried at my in-laws and would make a nice looking stick. Grateful for any info.

[jamesfa]

i have used several stalks from sotol plant as shafts for hicking sticks.

when dry the stalks are very light weight.the fibers are lenght wise making the stick fairly strong with some fleX

Frank

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

Most of what I call yucca is sotol...sotol and yucca are basically the same and in same family.....I think I have a stick or two on my picture trail. If you are looking for one send me a message......maybe we can swap sticks? I get them from local businesses that have them as landscaping, but they don't want the stalks falling on customers/employees or their cars so they are very happy for me to take them.....Dave

[wtrieb]

A friend of mine has several of these for walking/hiking sticks and they are great. I just got a couple yesterday and plan to clean them up and put a couple coats of varnish on them for our use. They are very light and strong.

[Ron T]

I picked up several going through Texas. You can't really carve them well but they take wood burning very nicely and they are strong. Arizona has very strict laws about harvesting or cutting any native plants.