Catclaw Acacia (Acacia greggii

   

 

Fig. 1. Overview. Fig. 2. Flowers. Fig. 3. Fruit. Photographs by Wynn Anderson.

• Common English Names: Catclaw Acacia
• Common Spanish Names: Uña De Gato, Gatuño, Tesota
• Scientific Name: Acacia greggii (ah-KAY-shuh GREG-ee-aye)
• Family: Fabaceae (Legume Family)
• Geographic Range: Widespread in Southwest, south and central Texas to California, Nevada, Utah, and northern Mexico.
• Plant Form: Shrub from 6' H, up to tree at 30' H.
• Remarks: Cylindrical, creamy yellow, fragrant flowers in spring, occasionally thereafter; multitrunked tree or thicket-forming shrub with feathery foliage and flat curling seed pods; stout recurved cat-claw thorns on slender spreading branches make an effective barrier; prefers good drainage but tolerates a range of soils including alkaline; good shelter for wildlife, seeds eaten by quail, excellent honey plant. Low water, full sun, winter hardy.
• Ethnobotany: Ethnobotanical comments by Jane SpottedBird. To return to this page, use the back button on your browser.

Last Update: 3 Jul 2002.