Parkinsonia aculeata

Common Name: Mexican Palo Verde, Jerusalem Thorn
Oˊodham Name: [unknown]
Group: Trees － Desert

Description

Parkinsonia aculeata is characterized by leaf petioles that are modified into a 10 inch long, thread-like rachis. The tree may reach 40 feet in height and has relatively few branches that are long and rather flexible. It inhabits sandy flats and roadsides in northwestern Mexico and, in Arizona, around the Altar Valley between 2500 and 4500 ft elevation. It also is widely planted as an ornamental and escapes easily into the surrounding desert. In Springtime, it is covered with a mass of yellow / orange flowers. Also see Parkinsonia florida and Parkinsonia microphylla.

Classification

Kingdom Plantae － Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta － Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta － Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta － Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida － Dicotyledons

Subclass Rosidae

Order Fabales

Family Fabaceae － Pea family

Genus Parkinsonia L. － paloverde

Species Parkinsonia aculeata L. － Jerusalem thorn

More Information

USDA Plant Profile and Map