240. MESQUITE (_Prosopis glandulosa_ Torr.) an abundant small tree with
a short trunk and open, spreading crown. Habitat: hilly pastures west of
the Trinity River. Flowers: tiny, yellow, in catkins, blooming about May
first and often again after summer rains. Pods: 4 to 9 inches long,
somewhat constricted between the seeds, containing a sweet pulp as well
as 10 to 20 seeds; valuable as food for livestock. Leaves:
Twice-pinnately compound, alternate, 8 to 10 inches long, composed of
one or two pairs of primary divisions each bearing 12 to 20 leaflets
usually much less than two inches long. Twigs: have spines, usually in
pairs at the leaf-axils. Wood: heavy, hard, closegrained, durable in
soil, used for fence posts, underpinnings of buildings and fuel. The
roots are large and heavy, giving rise to the saying that West Texans
dig for their wood.
241. REDBUD (_Cercis canadensis_ L.) a medium or small tree common in
woodlands. Leaves: heart-shaped or truncate at base and blunt or
slender-pointed at tip, 3 to 5 inches long and wide, smooth above,
margin entire. Twigs: smooth, dark reddish brown, slender. Bark: of
larger trunks finally divided into long, narrow plates, the surface
separating into thin scales. Flowers: pea-shaped, pink with a red calyx,
½ inch long, in clusters close to the branches and sometimes even down
on the trunk. Fruit: reddish brown pods 2 to 4 inches long, about ½ inch
wide, flattened, often persistent into winter. Wood: dark brown, hard
but weak, not valued commercially. The tree is common in cultivation
because of its attractive early-blooming flowers; it is easily grown
from seed.
242. REDBUD (_Cercis reniformis_ Engl.) a small tree or tall shrub of
limestone ridges southwest of Dallas. Leaves: kidney-shaped, not
pointed, generally more glossy above than _C. canadensis_, “Mountain
Redbud.”
243. HONEY LOCUST (_Gleditsia triacanthos_ L.) a very thorny tree common
in a variety of soils. Leaves: some once-pinnately compound and some
twice, both kinds on the same tree, leaflets numerous, 1 to 1½ inches
long and ½ wide, nearly entire, turning yellow in autumn. Twigs:
slender, shining, usually reddish brown, distinctive for the large,
pronged thorns which they bear in the second year and retain for many
years. Bark: of trunk becoming rough, its broad ridges with thick,
recurved edges, highly variable as to the number of thorns retained.
Flowers: tiny, yellow, in catkins, very sweet-scented. Fruit: flat,
reddish brown pods, 10 to 18 inches long, usually twisted, containing a
sweetish pulp between the hard seeds; they are widely scattered by many
animals which relish the pulp but fail to digest the seeds. Wood: hard,
strong, coarse-grained, durable in the soil, bright red-brown, used for
fence posts, wheel hubs and in construction. This tree is very resistant
to drouth but gives scanty shade and causes much litter.
244. EVE’S NECKLACE (_Sophora affinis_ Torr. & Gray) a small, slender
tree becoming almost vine-like when crowded by other trees, common on
stream borders, limestone hills, or prairie ravines. Leaves: pinnately
compound of 13 to 19 pointed or blunt leaflets about 1½ in. long and 1
wide with entire or slightly wavy margins. Twigs: dull or glossy green
becoming mottled with gray, sometimes zigzag. Bark: thin, gray, finally
breaking into many, loose, oblong scales. Flowers: ½ in. long, white to
lavender rose, in drooping clusters, pea-shaped. Fruit: dull black pods
1 to 4 inches long, tightly constricted between the seeds, often
clinging to the tree with the flowers of the following spring. Wood:
light red with 10 or 12 layers of bright yellow sapwood, heavy, hard and
strong but too small to be of commercial importance. This little tree is
native only to eastern and central Texas and the borders of adjacent
states. K (p. 147.)
[Illustration: 244 Eve’s necklace]
245. RIVER LOCUST (_Amorpha fruticosa_ L.) or false indigo: a tall shrub
fairly common in low, moist ground, more common in sun than shade.
Leaves: pinnately compound, of 9 to 25 leaflets, oblong or elliptical, ½
to 1½ in. long, gland-dotted. Flowers: in dense, erect clusters, each
floret consisting of one dark purple petal wrapped around the ten
gold-tipped stamens and the style. Fruit: pods about ¼ in. long heavily
dotted with amber-colored glands. K (p. 160.)
[Illustration: 245 river locust]