With mimosa-like leaves and long-stamened flowers growing in clusters,
false-mesquite, “calliandra,” or “fairy duster” is a small, straggling
bush, quite Japanesy in appearance, from a few inches to 3 feet high. It
blossoms from February to May, and is quite common below 5,000 feet from
west Texas to southern California and northern Mexico. In California it
is especially abundant along the east side of the Chocolate Mountains.
During periods of drought the leaves enter a state of continued wilt,
but revive promptly when rain comes.
_Calliandra eriophylla_ Pea Family
[Illustration: FALSE-MESQUITE]