Acacia rigidula Benth.

  • Authority

    Isley, Duane. 1973. Leguminosae of the United States: I. Subfamily. Mimosoideae. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 25 (1): 1-152.

  • Family

    Mimosaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Acacia rigidula Benth.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Much branched, thick-twigged, thorny shrubs to small trees to 4 m, appearing glabrous but leafstalks finely puberulent. Leaves from spurs, bipinnate; petiole short (2-3 mm) with a medial or subapical gland; pinnae one pair; leaflets 2-3(-4) pairs, obovate-elliptic, nearly symmetric, .6-1.2 cm, shiny, plainly nerved. Stipules white-spinose. Flowers in clusters, 1-4(-8), of yellowish-white catkin-like spikes 1-2.5 (-3.5) cm, appearing on spurs before leaves. Legume linear, turgid, irregularly moniliform, curved 90°-240°, 5-8 cm long, ca 6 mm diam, valves ultimately woody, black, longitudinally striate.

  • Discussion

    Acaciopsis rigidula (Benth.) Britt. & Rose Cn 2n = 26 (Turner, 1959). Although I have followed other U.S. workers in taking up A. rigidula as a species, I do not know whether it is more than varietally distinct from the Mexican A. amentácea DC.

  • Distribution

    S to w Texas. Locally common, lower Rio Grande plains, less frequent w; thorny brush country, rocky slopes, limestone bluffs, fence rows; with mesquite, live oak, etc.; sandy silt to clay soils. (Feb.)March-April. Ne Mexico.

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