The Desert Fan Palm–Washingtonia filifera is found throughout the Colorado Desert–It is found in practically every oasis and watering hole–Recently DNA studies have shown very little genetic diversity in those populations–It is thought that Native Americans brought them to those spots–One of the few places that W. filifera occurs on the coast side of the mountains is at Indian Canyon near Hemet–It is thought they were brought there by the Indians–The fruit is edible and the leaves can be used for thatching–The rib of the leaf was used for the board of the fire drill
RICHARD PETTINGER HELLER 