If this is a clonal ring this organism could be hundreds, if not thousands, of years old. We don't know very much about the desert, popularly - in the realm where our decisions are made. We may be blading and scraping away our legacy and not know it.
See also:
Walking Among 2,000-Year-Old Plants in the Mojave, by Chris Clarke
Chris Clarke on the Old Growth Desert, Cynthia's High Desert Blog