noun
- Plural of coyotillo; a spiny shrub native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, bearing small white flowers and red berries.
Usage: Regional; primarily used in botanical and southwestern contexts; Also called desert coyotillo or graythorn
Examples
- The coyotillos dotted the arid landscape of the Texas borderlands.
- Ranchers often clear coyotillos from pastures because of their sharp thorns.
- Wildlife in the region feeds on the berries produced by coyotillos.
- The dense growth of coyotillos provides shelter for small desert animals.