Shrubs [trees], 2–3[6–7] m. Trunks: bark flakey, gland-dotted. Branches ± flexuous distally. Stems sparsely pubes­cent. Leaves: stipules modified paired spines, creamy white, gland-dotted, 0.5–2.5 cm, gla­brous; petiole/rachis 0.3–2.5 cm; pinnae 4; leaflets 40–60, alter­nate, 1–2 mm apart, blades linear-oblong, [2.5–]5–10[–15] × 1.1–3 mm, base rounded, margins sparsely cili­ate, veins prominent, apex obtuse, surfaces glabrous. Peduncles 0.4–3 cm, sparsely pubescent. Inflo­rescences amentlike spikes, 4–10(–13) cm. Flowers: sepals 1 mm, glabrous; petals connate proximally, greenish white, 3–4 mm, sparsely pubescent adaxially with tufted hairs api­cally; stamens yellow; filaments 5–6 mm, glabrous; anthers 0.5–0.8 mm; ovary stipitate, 1–1.5 mm, villous; style 0.4–0.6 mm, pubescent proximally. Loments mostly yellow, sometimes speckled with violet, linear, straight to slightly curved, submoniliform, 9–17 × 0.7–1.4 cm, glabrous. Seeds yellow-brown, ovoid, 3–4 mm. 2n = 28.

Phenology: Flowering May–Aug.
Habitat: Open fields, roadsides, dis­turbed areas, mountain ridges and canyons, well-drained or drying soils.
Elevation: 40–2100 m.

Distribution

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Introduced; Tex., Mexico (Aguascalientes, Chiapas, Durango, Guanajuato, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacán, Morelos, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, Puebla, Querétaro, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Zacatecas).

Discussion

Fruits of var. laevigata are edible and are used as fodder in Mexico; plants have also been cultivated as shade trees. In the flora area, var. laevigata is known only from Nueces County.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.