Knight, Marilyn McBroom
Acacia roemeriana Scheele
Roundflower catclaw, Round-flower catclaw, Roemer acacia, Catclaw, Roemer’s acacia, Catclaw acacia
Fabaceae (Pea Family)
This is a prickly, 3-7 ft., round-topped
shrub or, more rarely, a small
tree to 15 ft. with spreading branches. Branchlets with scattered straight or recurved prickles. Leaves divided into numerous leaflets 1/2 inch long or less. Fragrant, cream to greenish flowers 3/8 inch wide arising mostly from the axils of the leaves are followed by a narrow, leathery fruit.
Fruit a brown to reddish, flat, curved
pod up to 4 inches long and 1 1/8 inches broad. Young trunks are covered with smooth
bark, becoming scaly with age.
Twigs are armed with short, curved prickles; hence the common name catclaw.
Image Gallery:
9 photo(s) available
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Green
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Distribution
USA: NM , TX
Native Distribution: C. TX to s. Trans-Pecos; adjacent Mex.
Native Habitat: Hillsides, Slopes, Chaparral & brush country
USDA Native Status: L48(N) Growing Conditions
Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Gravelly, Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay, Limestone-based, Rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: Good honey plant.
Benefit
Use Ornamental: Showy, Attractive, Blooms ornamental
Use Wildlife: Flowers a source of honey. Cover, Nesting site, Nectar-bees, Nectar-butterflies, Nectar-insects
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Last Update: 2013-03-25
