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December 15, 2007 : Larrea tridentata
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Keywords: Zygophyllaceae | Larrea tridentata (Sessé & Moc. ex DC.) Coville | Death Valley National Park, California, USA
Here are some close-up photographs as a follow-up to yesterday's entry on Larrea tridentata.
The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum provides an excellent article about the Zygophyllaceae or caltrop family, with over half of the text dedicated to the Larrea tridentata. The article highlights some of the oddities about this species, such as its biogeography (it is the only species in a genus of six species to be found in North America – the rest are in southern South America), the number of insect species reliant upon it (60, including 22 species of bees!) and how it is among the world's oldest living things. Some of its common names are also discussed, including one that would bea good nickname for one of my cats (hediondilla).
Posted by Daniel Mosquin at December 15, 2007 9:35 AM
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Posted by: Roberta at December 15, 2007 12:04 PM
Again you've given us another of my favorite desert plants! My brother and I used to play all sorts of make-believe games in a "ring" of creosote bushes near our high-desert house (not far from the Joshua Tree in the front yard). I always loved the scent of the bushes after a rain. The little bright yellow flowers and fuzzy seeds were a welcome sight. As I remember, the tallest and greenest of the Larrea bushes were usually where they got a little more water than others, such as from the water run-off along a road.
Thanks for yesterday's and today's photos, Daniel.
Posted by: Janet A. at December 15, 2007 12:06 PM
In Southern California's Imperial Valley around the Salton Sea, the plant is everywhere that farmland has not been reclaimed from the desert. Having wintered there for several years, I have become quite familiar with it and it's denizens. One is the so-called desert iguana, a light colored foot long lizard which loves to feed on the yellow blossoms. They will clean up all the flowers close to the ground, then quite amusingly jump up and bite off buds that are around 8-10 inches from the sand.
The plants themselves are as dangerous as a dry Xmas tree around and open flame and I have seen more than one trailer or motorhome lost to the instant flare of an ignited creosote bush. They even smell pyric.
Posted by: LAMEWAYNE at December 15, 2007 9:42 PM
excellent pictures. am interested in their threat or potential in croplands
Posted by: Thomas Abraham at October 6, 2008 11:32 AM
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I love the smell of "desert rain" and have tried to grow a creasote from seed without success. Could anyone tell me the best way to propogate this plant?