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or a visitor from an area of tall oaks, maples, and elms, coming to the Sonoran Desert for the first time can be a real shock. The parched l a n d s c a p e appears to be a vast, expansive wasteland. For those of us who call our arid lands home, we see a
10 | Boyce Thompson Arboretum | Fall 2019
different picture. The desert contains an infinite diversity of species of plants, many of which are medicinal. One such plant that provides a multitude of curative benefits is the creosote bush, also known as chaparral or greasewood. This scraggy, hardy bush grows on desert floors up to an estimated 4000-foot elevation across portions of California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. It can also be found here at the Boyce Thompson Arboretum. It is one of the best antimicrobial, antifungal, and antioxidant medicinal botanicals to be found under the earth's skies. Native American desert communities have used it for thousands of years. In his book "Free Food and Medicine,"
