What is the thorny shrub found in Mexico southwestern US?

The thorny shrub found in Mexico and southwestern US is the creosote bush (Larrea tridentata). It is a drought-tolerant plant that can survive in harsh desert conditions. The creosote bush has small, leathery leaves and produces a resinous substance that gives it a pungent odor. It is a common sight in the Sonoran Desert and other desert regions of the southwestern US and Mexico.