| These unusual trees were named by the Mormons
on their trek to Salt Lake, Utah. The story goes that the trees with their
lifelike postures suggested Joshua lifting his arms heavenward in a prayer
of thanksgiving for the successful end of a long and tedious
journey. Joshua tress only grow in the Mojave Desert, parts of which
extend from California into Arizona, Utah and Nevada. The Joshua
trees are a member of the lily family, and are classified as Yucca
brefolia. They are related to many familiar plants such as yucca, tulips,
hyacinth, asparagus, garlic and onions. The wood fiber of the Joshua
is classified as the Monocot, along with palms, bamboo, cane, etc. Their
growing habit is very similar to many Palm trees, (with the exception of
growth rate). Each year the Joshua trees put out a tiny amount of new
leaves (spines) at the end of each branch and a few die back to resemble
the shaggy profile of many Palms. Joshua tree growth is so extremely
slow, the replacement of an average tree could take as long as a hundred
years. To learn more about Joshua Trees see a History
of Joshua Trees by Mary Evelyn Austin. |
