Common Name(s): Bauhinia-Leaf Acacia

Synonym(s):

Family: Fabaceae

Native To: From Chihuahua south to San Luis Potosi, in Mexico.

Native Habitat:

Growth Habit: A multi- stemmed small tree, similar in form to a Bauhinia, almost as wide as it is tall.

Flowering: Blooms almost continuously in Tucson, tapering off during summer.

Distinguishing Characteristics: The flexible young branches are reddish brown. They have teeny recurved spines, barely noticeable. Leaves are 2-pinnate; ie., one pair of leaflets that again divides once (thus a pair, each with two, to equal 4 leaflets). At first glance these are substantial enough to appear to be a simple leaf, (like a Cercis). The lower foliage does not fall off, so that the plant is thick, not transparent. Each leaflet is round, from 1 cm to 4 cm in size, with a waxy surface and prominent veins. Flowers are marble-size creamy puffballs. Pods are slightly curved, but substantial. They are up to 7 cm long, and about 2 cm wide, with thick seams, and develop to glossy brown when mature. The appearance is of a very healthy snow pea, or an Acacia berlandieri pod on steroids.

Natural History and Cultivation Notes: According to Matt Johnson of the Desert Legume Program (DELEP) in Tucson, A. crassifolia hybridizes freely with its cousin A. berlandieri (which at first glance looks nothing like it). Where the two species occur together, it is possible to see a full range / mix of leaf forms between the extremes of lacy and fat. It is clear though, that seeds and flowers of both species are similar.

Ethnobotany:

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