Twentynine Palms in San Bernardino County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Jojoba - Simmondsia chinensis

Jojoba - <i>Simmondsia chinensis</i> Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, December 12, 2025

1. Jojoba - Simmondsia chinensis Marker

Inscription. Jojoba is a woody evergreen shrub with thick, leathery, bluish-green leaves and dark brown, nutlike fruit. One plant can produce 10 pounds of nuts.

Jojoba is an important forage plant for desert bighorn sheep and mule deer. Birds and rodents eat the nuts. The seed meal is toxic to many mammals, and the indigestible wax acts as a laxative in humans.

Native peoples used jojoba oil from pressed nuts as a hair conditioner and in medicine, cooking, and rituals.

With the banning of the sale of sperm whale oil in 1973, we now use jojoba oil in shampoos, moisturizers, sunscreens, conditioners, and as an industrial lubricant.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce.

Location. 34° 5.708′ N, 116° 10.186′ W. Marker is in Twentynine Palms, California, in San Bernardino County. It can be reached from Indian Cove Nature. Marker can be found along the Indian Cove Trail. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 68451 Indian Cove Nature, Twentynine Palms CA 92277, United States

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of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Coachella Valley,

in the Peninsular Ranges,

and specifically in the Transverse Ranges.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Tortoise Troubles (within shouting distance of this marker); Lizards for Lunch! (within shouting distance of this marker); Desert Willow (within shouting distance of this marker); Desert Almond - Prunus fasciculata (within shouting distance of this marker); Desert Bighorn Sheep (within shouting distance of this marker); Hardships and Forced Transitions (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Are YOU a Packrat? (about 300 feet away); Welcome to the Indian Cove Trail (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Twentynine Palms.

Photographed by Darren Jefferson Clay, December 12, 2025

2. Jojoba - Simmondsia chinensis Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on January 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 16, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. This page has been viewed 38 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 16, 2026, by Darren Jefferson Clay of Duluth, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.