Today we enjoy this yucca for its grotesque appearance, a surprising sight in the landscape of biological interest. The Joshua tree’s life cycle begins with the rare germination of a seed, its survival dependent upon well-timed rains. Look for sprouts growing up from within the protective branches of a shrub. Young sprouts may grow quickly in the first five years, then slow down considerably thereafter. The tallest Joshua trees in the park loom a whopping forty-plus feet high, a grand presence in the desert. Judging the age of a Joshua tree is challenging: these “trees” do not have growth rings like you would find in an oak or pine. You can make a rough estimate based on height, as Joshua trees grow at rates of one-half inch to three inches per year. Some researchers think an average lifespan for a Joshua tree is about 150 years, but some of our largest trees may be much older than that.
5 comments:
Reminds me of U2.
Fascinating!!
Thank you for thinking of Louis Dean....he is turning the corner this afternoon and beginning to feel better! Glad I brought him to the hospital when I did!
Nice photo! Isn't it amazing that something can grow with so little water? And live so long, too!
fascinating...i think it is pretty!!
We lived in Victorville, CA for about 7 years. We watched the growth of the Joshua tree over the years. So impressive.
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