The plant pictured above was the only one of its kind along the edge of a shallow riverbed (although they are plentiful throughout the region). It also later served as a landmark for me during my night trek through the desert.
The plant is called a Sotol (from Spanish, meaning, Spoon). For some time now Mexicans have distilled a pretty fierce alcoholic drink (of the same name) from its bloom. While the leaves are protected by teeth-like spines, American Indians nonetheless managed to weave them into baskets and mats.
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