Thursday, May 30, 2019

Fruit of the Joshua Tree

While hiking last week, I noticed a number of the Joshua Trees in Joshua Tree National Park had these large fruit clusters. Here's what one reference says:

Joshua tree flowers are followed by fruits, which are capsule-shaped and can grow more than 3" in diameter. Left on the tree, the fruits will eventually become brittle and fall to the ground, where the impact can split them open, scattering the seeds. Seeds not eaten by wildlife can germinate where they fall. The young fruit is edible and may be sliced and seeded, then dried, or eaten fresh. The seeds may be eaten raw or roasted.

Since I was in a national park, I didn't try to pick any fruit to sample a taste. But I must admit, I was tempted!

Linking with Skywatch Friday.
Thanks for stopping by!!

38 comments:

  1. I've never seen a joshua tree and certainly not one of their fruits. That looks so different!

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  2. I don't think I've ever seen this before, not something I'd have expected.

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  3. That's interesting. I didn't know they bore fruit but it makes sense that they do. I'd of been tempted to try one out myself, but I am rule follower, most of the time.

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  4. Someone will have to find some and try it for us. I'm curious.

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  5. Now that´s one ugly fruit. Love the pic thou. Nicely composed and framed. Spot on.

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  6. The kind of strange fruit that one might expect on such a strange tree. I would guess that neither the fruit or seeds are particularly flavoursome; otherwise there would be Joshua Tree orchards all over California.

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  7. Thanks for sharing. The desert is really surprising...an environment to discover.
    Have a great weekend!

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  8. New for me. Thanks for showing this.

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  9. Very interesting, something I never knew. I'm sure they would not have missed one piece of fruit.

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  10. Great contrast of colors. Nature just keeps on giving.

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  11. Hello, I love teh Joshua trees, I had no idea they produced a fruit. Pretty sky capture. Wishing you a happy day and weekend!

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  12. Leave nothing but footprints; take nothing but photos.

    huh

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  13. Wonderful contrast of colors! I have never seen this tree: thank you for showing!
    Have a nice weekend!

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  14. Wow! Those fruit looks very thorny and can prick you, but I can imagine that it does taste sweet. Reminds me of the Nipa Palm fruits that we have here in the tropics! Thank you for sharing us this flora in the desert :)

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  15. Very interesting!
    Have a great weekend!

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  16. Fascinating - I like the shape of the fruit on the tree.

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  17. wow! What a treasure trove of seeds from the Joshua tree and creative photography!

    Happy Day to you,
    A ShutterBug Explores,
    aka (A Creative Harbor)

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  18. Amazing photo! And who knew that Joshua tree fruit was edible? Not I!

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  19. The Joshua Tree National Monument is one of California's great treasures. I had no idea the fruit was edible but kudos to you for restraining yourself in any event.

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  20. Beautiful picture. Wonder how it tastes :)

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  21. Very interesting tree and fruit.

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  22. It's a little like a bunch of coconuts SPP, maybe not as tasty, although we might never know 😀

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  23. I saw a lot of fruits on the ones in Red Rock Canyon when I was there last month. It's amazing what the desert can produce, isn't it?

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  24. Are you sure you didn't sample any? I don't know I could stand the temptation, haha. Thanks for coming by, and it must already be hot at Joshua tree, since we are here (supposedly) reaching 80 deg. F.

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  25. I’ve never seen the fruit before, not even in a photo. Thanks for posting. Unlike you, I’m not sure i would be able to resist a little taste!

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  26. I have been to Joshua Tree NP plenty of times, but obviously not during the months to see the fruits. Thanks for sharing the info and the photo. Great afternoon colours!

    -Soma

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  27. Hi! Very interesting fruits! Nice capture.

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  28. News to me! How interesting that a cactus would produce fruit such as this! Thanks for educating us!

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  29. Probably supports a lot of wildlife.

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  30. That's interesting. You might have tried just one seed, but you are just too trustworthy and respectful of that beautiful place!

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  31. I never thought the Joshua trees would be fruiting this time of year--else I'd have sought some out to check out the pods. Since there are lots of them outside the park, you can probably still find some harvestable ones. From the descriptions, they sound kind of yummy. I've thought of you and your family a couple of times in the last few weeks--once as we were driving toward Barstow (we decided not to go through Yucca Valley this time and were headed straight back to Texas from Lone Pine), and then again when the earthquakes hit. Hope you folks down there didn't get too shaken up!

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