<iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-K3L4M3" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden">

Leading article Australia

Joshua tree

15 May 2021

9:00 AM

15 May 2021

9:00 AM

Travelling across the Mojave desert in the mid-1800s in search of the Promised Land, a group of Mormons were mesmerised by strange trees that they had never seen before, miraculously blooming in the arid, parched wastelands. Convinced that these monocotyledons in the shape of outstretched hands were sent by God to guide them and assist them on their biblical-style trek across the desert, they called this unusual yucca palm the Joshua tree.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Subscribe for just $2 a week

Try a month of The Spectator Australia absolutely free and without commitment. Not only that but – if you choose to continue – you’ll pay just $2 a week for your first year.

  • Unlimited access to spectator.com.au and app
  • The weekly edition on the Spectator Australia app
  • Spectator podcasts and newsletters
  • Full access to spectator.co.uk
Or

Unlock this article

REGISTER

You might disagree with half of it, but you’ll enjoy reading all of it. Try your first month for free, then just $2 a week for the remainder of your first year.


Comments

Don't miss out

Join the conversation with other Spectator Australia readers. Subscribe to leave a comment.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Close