Common Name(s): Catclaw Acacia

Synonym(s):

Family: Fabaceae

Native To: Southwestern US to northern Mexico

Native Habitat: Dry gravelly mesas, canyon sides, washes and arroyo banks

Growth Habit: Large shrub or small tree

Flowering: April - September

Distinguishing Characteristics: The leaves are bipinnate, 1-3 in long, with 1-3 pairs of short-stalked pinnae each, with 6-14 leaflets. Spines on the stem, which are up to 1/4 in long, are easily distinguishable from those of the other acacias included in this plant walk by their curved claw-like shape. Fragrant, cream-colored flowers occur in dense spikes up to 2 ½ in long and about ½ in wide. Reddish to light brown flattened pods are persistent on the tree from July through winter. The pods are slightly constricted between the seeds and are curved to form a "U" shape; they are about 5 ½ in long and 3/4 in wide. The seeds, up to 1/3 in long, are dark brown and shiny.

Natural History and Cultivation Notes: The species name, greggii, honors Josiah Gregg (1806-1850), a botanist who explored the southwestern US and northern Mexico. Its common name, "catclaw" refers to the shape of the spines. In its natural habitat, it forms a very dense shrub with many branches that provide excellent shelter for birds and animals in part because the "catclaw" spines make it very unpleasant for large animals (including humans) to walk through. Quail eat the seeds, and both jack rabbits and cattle eat the leaves when a better alternative is lacking. As in the case of the White-thorn Acacia, introduced honeybees use the flowers' nectar to make honey. Flowers also attract other pollinators such as butterflies, moths, and wasps.

Ethnobotany: This tree provides many resources for desert-dwellers. Historically it was an important food source for many southwest tribes. It produces a legume called vaina, which can be eaten fresh or ground into a meal to be made into porridge, baked, or even used as a coffee substitute. The seeds, too, can be stored, roasted or ground, and made into bread. The lac insect, Tachardia lacca, uses the tree's sap for food and in turn, releases a substance used as a source for commercial lac, an ingredient in lacquers. In addition, insect pollinators are extremely fond of the fragrant acacia blossoms, which are an essential source of nectar for honeybees. This fragrance is loved not only by insects but also indigenous women who carried dried buds and blossom in sachets as a type of perfume. The wood itself is valuable for fuel and for the construction of things such as baskets, hunting and fishing tools, fences, and furniture. It is used by the Seri people for various tools and weapons such as chisels, digging sticks, fish and turtle harpoons, and bows.

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