Creosote Bush
Creosote Bush, an evergreen shrub with a strong odor. It is found in the southwestern United States, northern Mexico, and South America. The bush is olive-green in color and grows to 10 feet (3 m) high. It bears small, yellow flowers and round, white fruit with a feltlike surface. The flower buds are pickled in vinegar and used in sauces and salad dressings. The creosote bush secretes a resin that is used as an antiseptic and to treat bronchitis. Creosote bushes that are approximately 11,700 years old have been found.
There are three species of creosote bush: Larrea tridentata, L. mexicana, and L. divaricata; all are of the caltrop family, Zygophyllaceae.