Joshua Tree

A twisted desert tree that depends on one specific moth for pollination/Plants

The Joshua tree (Yucca brevifolia) is an iconic tree-like plant of the Mojave Desert in the southwestern United States, growing at elevations between 400 and 1,800 meters. Despite its tree-like appearance, it is actually a member of the asparagus family. Joshua trees depend almost exclusively on the yucca moth (Tegeticula synthetica) for pollination in a classic example of obligate mutualism: the moth deliberately collects pollen and inserts it into the flower's stigma, then lays its eggs inside. The larvae eat some of the developing seeds but leave enough for the plant to reproduce. Individual trees can live for hundreds of years, growing only about 7.5 cm per year.