Parkinsonia microphylla Torr.
Foothills Palo Verde, yellow paloverde
The yellow palo verde is native to the Sonoran Desert. Although it typically looses its leaves in the punishing summer heat, its trunk and branches are photosynthetic. It also has deep roots so it can reach any available water.
Plants: The most notable difference between this palo verde and blue palo verde is the trunk and branch color. Foothills palo verde is yellow-green, vs. a bluish cast to blue palo verde. The trunk and branches are irregularly shaped, and have thorns. Trees are 12–18′ (3.7–5.5 m) high, with several major stems.
Leaves: Compound and pinnate, 1″ (2.5 cm) long, with tiny round leaflets. Trees are drought deciduous, dropping leaves during droughts to reduce water loss. They are even “branch deciduous,” dropping some branches if needed.
Flowers: Buttery yellow and white, solitary blooms are 1″ (2.5 cm), appearing from March to May.
Fruits: Pods 1½–3″ (4–8 cm) long contain one to five seeds.
Habitats: Common in the Mohave and Sonoran deserts of Arizona, California, and Baja Mexico; at up to 4000′ (1.2 km).
 |
Some palo verdes. |
Online References:
Cercidium microphyllum (Torr.) Rose & I.M. Johnst.
2/17/2007 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California 
5/25/2009 · Boyce Thompson Arboretum, Superior, Arizona 
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California 
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California 
2/28/2010 · Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, California · ≈ 17 × 12″ (44 × 29 cm) 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| Subkingdom | Tracheobionta | Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients |
| Division | Magnoliophyta | Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms |
| Class | Magnoliopsida | Dicotyledons—plants with two initial seed leaves |
| Subclass | Rosidae | Roses, legumes, proteas, dogwoods, hydrangeas, mistletoes, euphorbias, grapes, many more |
| Order | Fabales | Legumes (pea and bean families) |
| Family | Fabaceae | Legume family (peas and beans) |
| Genus | Parkinsonia | Named for John Parkinson, author, botanist, Apothecary of London and king’s herbalist to James I |
| Species | microphylla | “Small-leaved” |
Parkinsonia microphylla description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
© FloraFinder.org. All rights reserved.