[Illustration: Acacia greggi]
Common Names: CATCLAW, CAT’S-CLAW, TEARBLANKET, DEVILSCLAW
Arizona, California, and Texas deserts: (_Acacia greggi_). Pale
yellow. April-October.
Pea family. Size: Up to 20 feet tall.
The numerous thorns, short and curved like a cat’s claw, serve readily
to identify this common, often abundant, shrub or small tree.
There are several species, some with large, bright-yellow flowers, but
_A. greggi_ is the most common and occurs throughout all of the deserts
of the Southwest, at elevations below 4,000 feet, often forming thickets
along streams and washes.
Flowers, like pale yellow, fuzzy caterpillars, are one of the important
sources of nectar for honeybees, the trees being alive with insects
during the period of heaviest blooming in April and May.
In mid-August, the light green fruit pods begin to turn reddish and, if
abundant, make a colorful display.
Seeds of the Catclaw were at one time widely used as food by the Indians
of Arizona and Mexican tribes. They were ground into meal and eaten as
mush or cakes.
Catclaw is one of the most heartily disliked plants in the Southwest,
especially by riders and hikers, because of the strong thorns which tear
clothing and lacerate the flesh.