It was fun to see all the various flora too including some Silver Cholla in front. Other plants include Peachthorn, Desert Almond, Mormon Tea, Galleta Grass and Mohave Yucca (http://cali49.com/jtnp/2014/1/27/cap-rock-nature-trail) . Unlike the Sonoran Desert, the cacti species found here, such as silver cholla, Opuntia enchinocarpa, and beavertail, Opuntia basilaris, are few and far between. In the Mojave, MOST RAIN COMES IN WINTER. When the soil is cold it is hard for larger cacti to absorb enough water to survive. Cactus spines reflect heat and help conserve stored moisture.

In an ecosystem food chain, primary producers are the first link in the chain because they obtain their energy from the sun. In addition to sunlight, plants need water to survive long enough to reproduce. Although the desert lacks abundant water, the plants in Joshua Tree National Park have adapted to survive by hoarding water for long periods of time and producing seeds quickly during periods of rainfall.