Parkinsonia aculeata L.

Mexican palo verde, espinillo, palo verde, Parkinsonia, Jerusalem thorn, jelly bean tree, palo de rayo, retama

Jerusalem thorn is native to the southern United States, Central America, and northern South America.

Plants: A spiny shrub or small tree, 6½–26′ (2–8 m) tall, singly or multiply stemmed. Branches are zigzagged, with pairs or triplets of spines ¼–⅜″ (7–12 mm) long at each branch node. Trunks and branches are smooth and green, becoming scaly as the tree ages. It can form impenetrable thickets, and it is considered weedy or invasive in many areas.

Leaves: Straplike, hanging petioles are flattened, 6–8″ (15–20 cm) long, with tiny elliptic leaflets spread out in two rows along the petioles. Leaflets are in one to three pairs. Petioles and leaflets are hairless. The branches and petioles are both photosynthetic, and the tree is drought deciduous, dropping the small leaves during summer to conserve water.

Flowers: Yellow-orange, fragrant, in groups of 8-10. Each flower is ¾″ (2 cm) around, with five sepals and five petals. Most of the petals are similar in shape, but the bottom one is elongated, with red dots, and becomes entirely red with age. Flowers appear from March to April and from September to October.

Fruits: Leathery light brown seedpods are up to 4″ (10 cm), containing multiple seeds.

Habitats: Semi arid, but moist habitats. It is found in grasslands, woodlands, disturbed habitats, and wastelands. It is salt tolerant, hence found in coastal habitats.

Some palo verdes.

Online References:

 

Parkinsonia aculeata description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.

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