Crown Sprouts
Note the crown sprouts growing from the base of the Joshua trees. Probably no other tree grows in such grotesque forms as does the Joshua, especially these found in this park. The Herbertii subspecies grows mostly in deep sandy soil and rarely grows more than 14 feet high. Also note that as the leaves (green spikes on the upper end of the limbs) die, they turn gray and fold down against the branch or trunk. As the tree ages these dead leaves fall off leaving a bark-like covering. The trunk of the tree does not have growth rings to indicate age like junipers, but rather contain a fibrous material like a palm tree.
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