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Catclaw Acacia (Senegalia greggii)
Trees Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)

General: Catclaw Acacia (Senegalia greggii) usually are short, spindly, many branched trees (or large shrubs) with cat-claw-shaped spines on the younger stems. The name comes from the catclaw spines that catch, hold, and tear the flesh and clothing of people who brush up against them. Occasionally, catclaws grow to the height of "real" trees.

Catclaw Acacia is a common components of wash communities in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) and Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zones. They are also found out on bajadas.

Catclaw often are parasitized by Mesquite Mistletoe, which appears as clumps of stems with white or red berries. Phainopepla depend on these berries for food, but they are toxic to humans.

Family: Pea (Fabaceae). Formerly Acacia greggii.

Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)

Other Names: Acacia greggii, Wait-a-Minute Bush (because if you get tangled up in this tree, you have to Wait-a-Minute to get untangled).

Plant Form: short, spindly, many branching tree or large shrub. Sometimes forming thickets along the edges of washes.

Height: Usually 6-10 ft, to about 20 ft.

Trunk: Usually a single trunk, but many branches beginning near the ground.

Leaves: Gray-green, compound (2-pinnate), leaflets small, oblong.

Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)

Flowers: Blooms late spring to early summer, also sporadically throughout the summer and fall in response to rain. Bottlebrush-shaped catkins on stalks (spikes). Individual flowers are small, pale yellow, and tubular; stamens many and conspicuous.

Seeds: Fairly large, disk-shaped seeds born in 2 to 6-inch-long, twisted, stringbean-type pods. Green, aging to brown when ripe.

Habitat: Dry, well-drained sandy, gravelly, and rocky soils along washes; less commonly found on open bajadas.

Distribution: Southern California to Texas and south into Mexico where winters are mild.

Elevation: Near sea level to 4,500 feet.

Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw trees along a dry wash
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Tree-sized catclaw
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii) Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Shaggy bark on tree-sized catclaw
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia has recurved thorns like claws on a cat
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia has recurved thorns like claws on a cat
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia has recurved thorns like claws on a cat
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia leaves (note: each is 2-pinnate compound)
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Five Catclaw Acacia leaves (note: each is 2-pinnate compound)
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia leaves are compound (2-pinnate)
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia leaves are compound (2-pinnate)
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia leaflets (leaves are 2-pinnate compound)
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia leaflets (leaves are 2-pinnate compound)
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Pale yellow flowers on tree
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia flower buds and first opening flowers
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia flower buds
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia flower buds and first opening flowers
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia flowers
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia flowers
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia flower clusters
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia flower clusters
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia individual flowers
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia individual flowers
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia seedpods beginning to grow
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia seedpods beginning to grow
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia tree with developing green seedpods
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Developing Catclaw Acacia seedpods
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Developing Catclaw Acacia seedpods
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Developing Catclaw Acacia seedpods
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia seedpods
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia seedpods
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Dried seedpods on the tree
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Dried seedpods on the tree
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Dried seedpods on the tree
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Dried seedpods on the tree
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Dried seedpods on the tree
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Dried seedpods on the tree
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii) Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii) Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii) Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Big crop of dried seedpods on the ground
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Big crop of dried seedpods on the ground
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Long roots seek water far beneath the surface
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Deep roots seek water in all directions
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia with failed fruits during mega-drought
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia with failed fruits during mega-drought
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia with failed fruits during mega-drought
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Catclaw Acacia with failed fruits during mega-drought
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Honey Bee providing pollination services
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Honey Bee providing pollination services
Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii)
Three of many Tarantula Hawks providing pollination services
more to come
More to come ...

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
copyright; Last updated 250629

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