catclaw mimosa (Wildlife and Wildflowers of Texas - Wildflowers Pt. 1)

catclaw mimosa

Mimosa aculeaticarpa

Other Names ⁷

Wait-a-Minute Bush

Blooming Season ⁷

May-July

Identification ⁷

(1) A shrub closely resembling Pink Mimosa (Mimosa borealis). Occasional in open, unshaded areas. Branchlets armed with recurved prickles that catch on clothing. Leaves twice pinnately compound with up to 8 pairs of leaflet bearing axes, and as many as 12 or more pairs of leaflets per axis. Leaflets about 1/8 inch long. Flowers small, pinkish, in fluffy, spherical clusters, appearing in April. Fruit a dry, flat pod, light brown to reddish brown, up to 1 1/2 inches long, with recurved prickles on the edges.
(2) The catclaw mimosa is a straggling thicket forming shrub, usually growing to about one meter tall but occasionally double that height. The twigs are hairy and armed with backward pointing spines that easily catch in clothing. The alternate leaves are bi-pinnate with a varying number of small oblong leaflets. The flowers are white or pale pink, bunched together in globular heads. The fruits are flat pods up to four centimeters long, flattened between the seeds and splitting open when ripe. There are recurved prickles on the edges of the pods.
(3) Shrub or small tree; straggling, thicket-forming, reddish stems slender, stems with single or paired curved strong prickles, heavily branched. The prickles can be harmful to human skin and cloths. Leaves green; small, deciduous; pinnately compound; 8 or more leaflets,; linear to oblong. Flowers white or whitish or pinkish; fuzzy flowers in globose clusters; fruit is a flattened and curved seed pod which is constricted between seeds, seeds are reddish brown.

Habitat ⁷

(2) This species occurs as scattered individual plants in oak, oak-pine, and evergreen woodlands, pinyon-juniper woodland and mixed with other shrubs in grassland and shrub-steppe communities. It grows on mesas, rocky slopes and gravel deposits. It is commonly found growing in chaparral and is spreading into desert and semi arid areas. This may be because the seed pods are eaten by cattle and the seeds are deposited in the dung, giving them a rich environment for germination. The plant is fire tolerant and sprouts readily after bushfires. In upland areas of west Texas, the redberry juniper (Juniperus pinchotii) acts as a nurse plant for the seedlings. They benefit from the shade and leaf litter associated with the juniper which seems to provide a favorable microclimate for the establishment of the seedlings.
(3) Very common in chaparral communities; dry soils on mesas and rocky slopes and hilltops. Relatively rare in the United States but common where found, Catclaw Mimosa is found in AZ, NM and TX. In Arizona it occurs throughout most of the state with few or now records in the southwest corner; In New Mexico it is found primarily in the southern half and in Texas it is found scattered through the central and western parts of the state. It also occurs in Puerto Rico and throughout much of Mexico.

Ecological Importance ⁷

(3) This species has a tendency to form thickets and thus providing excellent cover for small mammals and birds. Only the seed pods are eaten by desert livestock and the seeds are eaten by quail. It also provides nectar for honey bees.

Sources ⁷

(1) https://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=MIACB
(2) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimosa_aculeaticarpa
(3) http://southwestdesertflora.com/WebsiteFolders/All_Species/Fabaceae/Mimosa%20aculeaticarpa%20biuncifera,%20Catclaw%20Mimosa.html

Fontes e Créditos

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Color	pink, white

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catclaw mimosa

Other Names 7

Blooming Season 7

Identification 7

Habitat 7

Ecological Importance 7

Sources 7