Devil’s Cornfield

Early promoters seeking to capitalize on the mystique of Death Valley gave strange and unusual features dubious names such as Devil’s Cornfield. The site was thought to resemble bundled corn left to dry in rows at harvest time, because the root system of the arrowweed binds the soil around each plant. Mesquite trees at the base of the sand dunes in the distance made similar adaptations, hoarding soil to support their growth. Arrowweed thrives in soils that are only slightly salty and indicates a shallow water table. Native Americans used the ridged stems of arrowweed as arrow shafts.

California · United States