The Cat Thorn Bush (Lycium pallidum) is a thorny shrub native to the southwestern US and Mexico. Its unique blue-black berries are traditionally used by Native Americans for food, medicine, and dyes. Ecologically, it provides food and shelter for wildlife while stabilizing soil and controlling erosion. Despite its medicinal properties, the bush can also be invasive and is sometimes used ornamentally. In Native American cultures, it holds symbolic significance representing protection and fertility.