Coursetia
Coursetia glandulosa
syn. C. microphylla
UNARMED. This is a good clue because many leguminous
trees/shrubs in the Sonoran Desert are repleat with thorns, Coursetia is
not.
FLOWERS: Pea-flowers with both white and yellow petals contrasting with
burgandy sepals. The calyx and flower stem are copiously glandular.
Flowering mid spring through summer.
FRUIT: Thinnish bean pods are covered with sticky hairs when young. At
maturity the pod valves twist in opposing directions causing the pod to split
open. This may happen with enough force to eject the seed a considerable distance.
LEAVES: Singly compound leaves.
SHRUB: A medium to large shrub (3m) with flexible branches.
RANGE: Common along the eastern and southern parts of the Sonoran Desert
in Arizona and hence southward into Sonora. Fairly common in the Superstition
Mountains. The preferred habitats are rocky bajadas and wash banks.