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Tree and Shrub Gallery

Legume Family - Acacia

                       

Fabaceae (Leguminosae) - Legume family
Catclaw Acacia Acacia greggii (Acacia wrightii)
Cream colored oblong puff ball flower is about 1/2" wide and 2" long. Flowers are very fragrant and attract bees, wasps, butterflies, and flies. Leaves are small. Bush can grow to 30 feet tall but most are under 10 feet tall. This is a heavy hardwood and is strong and durable. Trees can form dense thickets. This plant will "grab you" with the 1/4" long thorns, which do not readily come off the plant Flat curved beans are 1"-6" long and variable in width. The width of the pod is much wider than the width of the bean. Seeds are eaten by quail and was eaten by Indians.
Photos taken in Taylor County, Texas, July 2004, May & July 2005
(Native of Texas - Taylor, etc.)
see similar Catclaw Mimosa

  

Fabaceae (Leguminosae) - Legume family

Prairie Acacia (Prairie Wattle, Whiteball Acacia, Fern Acacia) Acacia angustissima (Acacia texensis)
No thorns. Flower ball about 5/8" wide. Plants grows to 2-3 feet tall. Leaves are larger lower down, smaller near flowers. Woody stem at base. Pods are sometimes eaten by cattle and seeds are eaten by quail.
Photos taken in Coleman County, Texas, June 2004
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Shackelford, Callahan, Coleman, Brown, Coke)

Similar Species

Roemer's Acacia (Roundflower Catclaw) Acacia roemeriana
Bush or small tree to 15 feet tall. Spreading branches with curved or straight prickles. Bark is smooth aging to scaly. Leaflets up to 1/2" long. Cream to green flowers, 3/8 wide balls grow from leaf axils and cover branch. Leathery pod is flat, reddish, curved, up to 4" long and 1" wide.
(Native of Texas - Taylor, Jones, Coleman, Brown, Coke)