Mojave Indigobush
Psorodendron arborescens
Despite its name, the plant is often covered in a fine silver pubescence that helps reflect intense desert sunlight and conserve water.
- Scientific name
- Psorodendron arborescens
- Taxonomy
- Plantae › Tracheophyta › Magnoliopsida › Fabales › Fabaceae › Psorodendron
- IUCN Red List status
- Least Concern
- Population trend
- stable
- Biome
- desert
- Habitat
- Arid desert scrub, rocky slopes, and dry sandy washes between 500 and 1,500 meters elevation.
- Diet
- Photosynthetic (Autotroph); utilizes a deep taproot to access subterranean moisture.
- Range
- Mojave Desert, Sonoran Desert, California, Nevada, Arizona
- Size
- 1 to 2 meters in height and width
- Lifespan
- 20-50 years
- Active
- diurnal
- Threats
- Habitat fragmentation due to urban sprawl, utility-scale solar development, and competition from invasive Mediterranean grasses.
- Safe to approach?
- Harmless but possesses sharp, thorny branches. Observe from a distance to avoid scratches. If skin is punctured by a thorn, wash the area thoroughly with soap and water to prevent infection.
Psorodendron arborescens is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name Mojave indigo bush .
Photo: Jim Morefield, CC-BY, via iNaturalist
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