creosote bush Zygophyllaceae Larrea tridentata

Leaf:Opposite, simple, evergreen, compound with 2 small (1/4 to 1/2 inch long) leaflets, generally elliptical but often curved, yellow-green to green and appear varnished, fragrant particularly after a rain.
Flower:Five bright yellow twisted sepals, about 1 to 1 1/2 inches across, occur at the ends of the twigs, appearing in spring and scattered throughout the year.
Fruit:Capsule (1/4 inch), covered in long, stiff white hairs.
Twig:Slender, light gray to reddish brown, each node is ringed in a darker color and is slightly swollen.
Bark:Initially smooth and gray, eventually becomes darker and splits into shallow fissures and flat plates.
Form:A multi-stemmed shrub commonly up to 4 feet tall but may reach 15 feet, generally a round shape. Spreads by cloning itself along the edges of the plant often resulting in a circular pattern of "cloned" plants.

leaf flower fruit twig bark form map

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