Wait-a-Minute Bush
Catclaw Mimosa
Mimosa aculeaticarpa biuncifera
Drawn from specimen, AZ.
ARMED: The fiercly sharp thorns appear in pairs along
the stems and are hook-shaped. Digging into the flesh of those pushing through,
these thorns often make retreat difficult but necessary.
LEAVES: Double-compound leaves are finely dissected into extremely small
leaflets. Like many mimosas the leaves fold up, but slowly, when disturbed or
cut and also at night.
RANGE: In the Sonoran Desert of Arizona this shrub occurs at upper
elevations and into chaparral.
SHRUB: Woody shrub with rather thin flexible branches reaching mostly 2
meters in height.
FLOWERS: Many small flowers with conspicuous stamens and minute petals
are arranged into spheres of cream-white or in some varieties, pinkish.
FRUIT: Even the bean pods often have a thorn or two along the margin.