BITTER CONDALIA
Condalia globosa
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This photo was taken at Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument, May 2006.
SMALL TREE or LARGE SHRUB: Dark gray or almost black trunk(s) is (are)
gnarly and twisted. A 4 m tall condalia would be large specimen.
ARMED: The slender thorns are stiff and exceedingly sharp.
LEAVES: Leaves are small oblong or spatulate, somewhat leathery and are
deciduous with frost or severe drought.
RANGE: Widely distributed in southwestern Arizona, but not very common.
FRUIT: Blue-black berries have a hard stone inside and are extremely
bitter.
FLOWERS: Small greenish-white flowers are inconspicuous.
TRUNK: Dark and gnarly with fibrous bark.
By late spring large spiny caterpillars might be found on this plant. These belong to a type of silk moth (Follow thumb link for more information).
