LYCIUM COOPERI

Lycium Cooperi is known by the common name Peach Thorn. A customary competitor throughout the Mojave Desert, it makes known its native presence in surrounding Pioneertown. Peach Thorn grows among several plant communities, including Creosote Bush Scrub, Pinyon Juniper Woodland, Joshua Tree Woodland, and zones where they overlap.

Lycium Cooperi is a bushy, erect shrub, distinct enough to easily discearn from Yucca or Cholla species, but harder in comparison to other woody perennial shrubs in the vicinity. Branching habit can be used to establish a reference between the tightly packed reaching formations of L. Cooperi and the more dense overlapping angle patterns of Desert Almond. The striations in the twigs and stems are another diagnistic factor. Desert almond is shades of charcoal throughout, while the new growths on Peach Thorn start out red, turn gray and thicken as they mature, leving behind only small streaks of darker color.

Although generally not as tall as its maximum height of 13 feet, it can form forboding impassable thorny mounds at even a moderate length. Flower clusters are produced in shades of green and white. Fruits are a tiny yellowish berry containing multiple seeds.

My so dry the sun it parches, on and on the dawn it marches, merely seconds morning mist, high in sky bye you are missed