The correct answer to this open question is the following.
The organism and environment that are described in the text are the Coyote Brush also known as Baccharis Pilularis.
This is a common shrub that can be found in Baja California, Mexico; and California, and Oregon in the United States. This shrub has two subspecies: the Ssp pilularis and the Ssp consanguinea. The first is found along the central Pacific Coast and the second one at the foothills of the mountains. Its heigh is from one to three meters.
When growing in windy environments, this organism will grow low along the ground, but when grown in sheltered environments, it grows tall. The leaves have a waxy coating to reduce moisture loss, a chemical makeup that makes them fairly fire-resistant, and produce a scent that deters predators. It also has a large root system and root crowns.