Huisache
Sweet Acacia
Acacia farnesiana
(Vachellia farnesiana)
Photographed in Phoenix, Maricopa Co., Arizona. 26 Jan, 2008. The high resolution version of this image is hosted at Wikimedia where there are more images of Sweet Acacia.
Mature bean pods of Acacia farnesiana photographed in Glendale, Maricopa Co., Arizona. 28 July 2009.
TREE : A small to medium sized tree with dark, fissured bark and
abundant feathery leaves.
FLOWERS: Capitate spikes of numerous yellow flowers with prominent
stamens bloom very early in spring and sporadically at other seasons.
ARMED. At the nodes of the twigs there are pairs of straight, whitish
spines which may vary considerably in length.
LEAVES: Twice compound leaves. Frost or extended drought deciduous.
RANGE: Uncommon in many areas of the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, but more
common to the south and in cultivation. Chihuahuan Desert of Texas. The trees
are widely planted in xeriscapes.
FRUIT: Mature bean pods are 5 to 9 cm
long, almost circular in cross section, tough, and contain a few to several
brown bean seeds. The end of the pod has a sharp prickle and a fair amount of
dry pulp surrounds the seeds. The pods usually do not split open along the
seam. Often times small holes in the pods will indicate that some of the seeds
have been hollowed out by bean weevils which have since emerged.
