The Coolidge examiner. [volume] (Coolidge, Ariz.) 1930-current, 1939-04-06
Crucifixion Thorn
Interesting Plant

The climate OF Southern ArlZoh
to some extent resembles that Of
the Holy Land. 1t is little wonder
then, that we should find plants IN
this section that resemble those of
the Near East. The same specie
NAV not be found in both countries,
but we find plants in both localities
using the same methods to adjust
themselves to the adverse circumst-
ances under which they live. Thus
we find plants in both countries
with restricted leaf surfaces, those
with very thin leaves, those shedd-
ing their leaves during the dry
seasons and those that have done
away entirely with their leaves.
One of the Southern Arizona
plants that has practically DISCARD
ed it's leaves is the CruciflXlon
Thorn, botanically known as
Holacantha emoryi. During the
growing season tiny reddish, lance
shaped leaves appear under each
new formed thorn, these soon fall
and the plant is void of leaves the
remainder Of the year. Due to the
short time the leaves remain upon
the plant and the absence of green
colsr matter in the leaves them
selves, the process Of plant food
manufa curing is relegated to the
green branches, stems and thorns.
The Crucifixion Thorn sometimes
attains a height of fifteen feet, but
in most cases it is a Struggling
shrub three to six feet in height
In the larger plants a pronounced
trunk is found, the branches begin
ming to spread three to four rect
I'D from the base. The large
branches soon divide into many
branchlets, these branchlets all
terminating in sharp thorns. The
branches and branchlets are in
nearly all cases smooth, and in
most cases a gray green color, e1-
cepting where new thorns are be
ing formed, this new wood is light
green. The thorns rang in length
from one quarter to seven inches,
in thickness from one sixteenth to
three-eighths inch. At the end the
texture changes to a hard brown
needle like point.
The distribution of this plant IS
restricted, being found only In
southeastern California and south
western Arizona. In the Casa Gran
de valley this interesting and
peculiar plant may be seen grow
ing along the highway between
Eloy and the overpass. 1t also may
be found west of Casa Grande along
the ella Bend Highway where II
crosses the Santa Cruz Washes. In
the country south and west OF
Casa Grande where the Santa Cruz
has spread over large areas it can
be found dotting the alluvial area.
It is rarely found in rocky or sandy
soil but seems to be a lover OF
rich semi-delta like deposits.
There is a legend among the
Indian and Mexican population that
Holacantha emoryi was the thorn
used for the crown at the time OF
the crucifixion. While the legend
is very beautiful, it does not refer
to this particular plant. The plant
that was supposed to have been
used in the crucifixion was the
Crown of Thorns, and its botanical
name is Euphorbia splendens.
No plant of the desert resembles
Holacantha to any extent. 1t IS so
different that it can be Immediately
noticed by the layman il he has the
faintest idea of what he is looking
for. Although it is not the plant
made famous by the crucifixion, 1t
has many of it's characteristics,
and we who are living thousands of
miles from the scene Of calvary
have here in our own state
symbol and reminder Of the suffer
ing and death of the Christ.
The Spanish padres Of Pimerla
Alta as they travelled from one mis-
sion post to another must have
looked upon this tree, and remind
ed again of the crucified Christ no
doubt received an incentive from
this lowly thorn, and | fancy as
they looked upon the Crucifixion
Thorn, gray green, rugged and
sad. excatly in place in this seem
ingly forgotten land: perhaps were
reminded of their Masters home
and their own native land, and
thinking for moment of the Crown
of Thorns on a Palestine hill, or
cork trees of their native Spain.