The top of a young Joshua Tree with what is left of it's flower (seed pod) on top. The stems of the Joshua are quite sharp and hard.

"These could have germinated from seed but probably are sprouts from the underground rhizomes of a larger tree. In this manner, the mother tree clones itself. Although Joshua seeds germinated fairly easily, most of the seeds are eaten by birds and small animals and the larva of the pronuba moth which pollinates the blossom." - Ripley Woodland Brochure