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| Scientific Name | Vachellia constricta (Acacia constricta) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | ACCO2 |
| Common Name | Whitethorn Acacia | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 819938 |
| Family | Fabaceae (Pea) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Habitat: Desert enviromment along washes, on slopes and mesas, desert scrub areas, from 2,000-6,500 ft. Plant: Woody bush 3 to 10 feet high, reddish stems armed with pairs of whitish spines at leave nodes, 3/8 to 1-1/8 inches long. Leaves: Bi-pinnate compound leaves, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches long overall with 3 to 9 pairs of pinnae, each with several to many small (3/16-inch long or less) oblong or linear leaflets; deciduous. Inflorescence: Fragrant, bright yellow flowers in ball-shaped heads about 3/8 inch in diameter on peduncles up to about 1-1/4 inches long. Bloom Period: April to June, or later following rains in drought years. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, SEINet and "Ecology of Two Acacia Species in Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland" by Ishaque, Beck and Steiner. Note: Closeley resembles V. vernicosa below but this species has a higher number of pinnae (3 to 9 pairs) per leaf. |
BONAP Distribution Map |
Texas Status: Native |
| Scientific Name | Vachellia rigidula (Acacia rigidula) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | VARI |
| Common Name | Blackbrush Acacia | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 819928 |
| Family | Fabaceae (Pea) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Habitat: Various soils and conditions; common in South and Southwest Texas. Plant: Thicket-forming shrub or small tree 3 to 15 feet tall with multiple trunks and numerous rigid, short branches; bark whitish-grey with straight spines on most branches. Leaves: Bi-pinnate compound leaves, usually with only one pair of pinnae up to 1 inch long, and 2 to 4 pairs of leaflets 3/8 to 5/8-inch long on each; leaflets dark green, glossy and hairless, ovate with rounded tips; semi-evergreen. Inflorescence: Many aromatic, showy flower spikes arising from branch axils, each cylindrical spike about 3/8 to 1/2-inch wide and 2 to 6 times as long; each spike with many tiny radial flower cups, no petals, many white stamens with light-yellow anthers. Bloom Period: February to May. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, "Texas Wildflowers" by Campbell and Loughmiller and www.wildflower.org. |
BONAP Distribution Map |
Texas Status: Native |
| Scientific Name | Vachellia vernicosa (Acacia neovernicosa) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | VAVE |
| Common Name | Viscid Acacia | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 819942 |
| Family | Fabaceae (Pea) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description |
Habitat: Desert scrub environment; stream beds, canyons, mesas and rocky calcareous hills. Plant: Woody bush 3 to 6 feet high with several main branches from base; newer stems armed with pairs of whitish spines at leaf nodes; new stems are reddish; entire plant sticky from glandular secretions. Leaves: Bi-pinnate compound leaves, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches long overall with 1 or 2 pairs of pinnae, each with 7 to 9 pairs of small (3/16-inch long or less) oblong or linear leaflets per pinnae; deciduous. Inflorescence: Fragrant, bright yellow flowers in ball-shaped heads about 3/8 inch in diameter on peduncles about 1-1/4 inch long or less. Bloom Period: April to July, or later following rains in drought years. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston and "Ecology of Two Acacia Species in Chihuahuan Desert Rangeland" by Ishaque, Beck and Steiner. Note: Closeley resembles V. constricta above but this species has fewer pinnae per leaf (1 or 2 pairs, rarely 3). |
BONAP Distribution Map |
Texas Status: Native |
