Quote of the day
"Science cannot solve the ultimate mystery of nature. And that is because, in the last analysis, we ourselves are a part of the mystery that we are trying to solve." -Max Planck
Description The Creosote bush is normally chest or head high. Creosote leaves are small and curled (Moore, 1989, p.27) with a yellow-green color, and have a "greasy-leathery" texture (Tilford, 1997, P.44). "the bark is reddish brown toward the base of the plant and progressively lighter (to almost white) on the smaller limbs. The flowers are minute and yellow; they eventually develop into oddly fuzzy, seed-bearing capsules" (Tilford, 1997, p.44). |
One of the reasons for the Cresote's great success is the presence a highly toxic substance produced at its root that prevents other plants from growing nearby. Rainfall washes away the toxin allowing other plants to grow. Once the water drains off, the toxin is reproduced and the foreign plants are destroyed (Pyle, June 12, 1999). This ability ensures that the Creosote does not have to compete with other plant life for vital nutrients.
At the end of the last Ice Age, about 11,000 years ago, as the climate became warmer and drier, the junipers who used to inhabit the lower regions of the Southwest retreated to the nearby mountains, and creosote appeared on the scene. During this period this hardy invader shrub rapidly colonized after unknown long distance carriers (possibly migrating plovers) brought the seeds north from Argentina. Even hardy creosote would not have been able to come directly north across the wet tropical forest of Central America. Today creosote, Larrea tridentata, is a dominant or co-dominant member of most plant communities in the Mohave, Sonoran, and Chihuahuan Deserts.
Ancient Growth Rings
Ancient King Clone creosote circle
This hardy drought tolerant perennial may be the oldest living plant in North America.
Jonathan DuHamel explains: "The branches of the plant will live several centuries and die out, but the root crown produces new branches in a ring around the original plant. With time, this ring expands outward as old branches die and new branches take their place, and eventually become separate bushes which are clones of the original seed. If the prevailing wind is especially strong, only the clones downwind of the parent plant will survive, forming a line of plants instead of an expanding ring."
These mysterious looking growth rings then become mounded up with sand in the center.
"In a few areas of the Mojave Desert clonal creosote rings have been found that are several yards in diameter. Near Lucerne Valley, “King Clone” has an average diameter of 45 feet! Using radiocarbon dating and known growth rates of creosote, scientists have estimated the age of “King Clone” as 11,700 years. Some of these common residents have been here continuously since the last ice age." Harold DeLisle, PhD.
Creosote Ecological Associations - Volatile Leaves
In just these few thousand years, creosote has adapted to the different desert environments, added more chromosomes and evolved associations with more than 60 species of insects, including 22 species of bees that feed only on its flowers. These bees can lay in larval form near the shrubs also waiting for the rain to bring them to life. Desert creosote bushes provide shelter and shade for crickets, grasshoppers and other desert insects.
Larger animals, including desert tortoises, kangaroo rats, lizards and desert fox make their beds under the creosote bush or take refuge from predators and hot daytime temperatures in the plant's shade. While the creosote bush is inedible to most browsing animals, some small mammals such as the black-tailed jackrabbit consume the seeds and some species of rats eat the twigs.
Creosote that is used for wood preservation is a petroleum product distilled from tar. This is NOT to be confused with the aromatic desert shrub with the same name. The wild desert shrub has a strong, but pleasing smell. The stems and evergreen leaves of this plant contain a sticky resin that smells like (but doesn't actually contain) the wood preservative creosote. This resin screens the leaves against ultraviolet radiation, reduces water loss, and poisons or repels microbes and most plant-eating animals. Waxy coating on creosote leaves prevents water loss and protects the plant from being eaten by most mammals and insects. During drought, the wax covered leaves shrivel but do not die. When rains do come, the shallow, wide spread roots quickly take in water from the surrounding soil. The wrinkled leaves quickly rehydrate and turn bright green. Yellow flowers bloom followed by fuzzy little seeds.
"Rain volatilizes that waxy coating which then produces a distinct, camphor-like odor which some desert dwellers call the smell of rain. You can often experience the odor by cupping some leaves in your hands and blowing on them. There is enough moisture in your breath to volatilize the wax. " (Jonathan DuHamel).
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