Photo of landscape after desert wildfire

One year after a desert wildfire, the Joshua trees are left as skeletons, but globemallow (Sphaeralcea ambigua) and desert marigold (Baileya multiradiata) along with many annual food plants of the desert tortoise may be abundant. Among the bright flowers are green and red patches of the invasive red brome grass (Bromus madritensis rubens) – which fuel fires and USGS research shows is detrimental to growing juvenile tortoises.