Prunus Fasciculata is the botanical name for Desert Almond, a shrub native to the Pinyon-Juniper Woodland which slowly grows abundant with the Little San Bernardino Mountains around Skull Rock.
Although numerous in the area, they can be elusive to recognize with their low profile and habit of resembling a twisted pile of dead thorny twings when in drought conditions. After precipation, foliage replenishes rapidly and its small but nerous leaves can partially obscure its gray stems. Growth of interwoven branches can be quite intricate and alluring. This plant is noted to live many years.
The flowers are small and white and if successful will produce a fruit containing a single large seed. There is some medical controversey of whether or not they should be esten due to the leaves and seeds containing hydrogen cyanide. Native cultures may have known the secret, with some evidence of seed soaking to leech out the hazardous components.
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