| Joshua Trees | |
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Lost Horse Valley contains the Mojave Desert's best grove of Joshua trees. These are a species of yucca, Yucca brevifolia (short-leafed yucca), that has a treelike form. The leaves are stiff and extremely sharp. The Cahuilla tribe called it humwichawa. The Mormon pioneers, reminded of the biblical prophet Joshua, gave the tree its current name.
It's an interesting part of the Bible, Joshua 8:18–29. Joshua led a deadly attack on the desert city of Ai following the Lord's command: "Stretch out the javelin that is in your hand toward Ai; for I will give it into your hand." Joshua's men took Ai and burned it to ruins, threw the king's body down at the city gate, "and raised over it a great heap of stones, which stands there to this day."
In fact, the book of Joshua has stones prominently featured throughout it. So the name "Joshua tree" surely derives from the stony landscape of the Mojave as well as the trees' outstretched arms and javelin-tip leaves.
(c) Copyright 2002 Andrew Alden, licensed to About.com, Inc.
