« Browse By Botanical Name

Mariosousa millefolia

Accession Count: 4

Common Name: santarita acacia, milfoil wattle

Find this plant on campus
- Select which
  accessions to find:
- Select ALL
- 12477
  12478
  12479
  12480

Family Name: Fabaceae

Botanical Name: Mariosousa millefolia

Synonyms:

Botanical Synonyms: Acacia millefolia

Sub Species:

Variety:

Forma:

Cultivar:

Characteristics:

milfoil wattle is a winter-deciduous multi-stemmed shrub growing to 10 ft high. Stems are sparsely puberulous but become glabrous. Stems also have straight, needle-like stipular spines. The bark is pale gray and becomes slightly rough with age. Leaves are bipinnate with many finely divided leaflets, usually 6-14 pairs of pinnae per leaf, each with 20-37 pairs of small leaflets per pinna. White/cream flowers are produced on catkins, which are spike-like inflorescences along the stems. Flowering occurs during summer. (3) As with many members of Fabaceae, this species also forms flat, veiny seed pods. (4) However, it is distinct from others in the genus as this species lacks the petiolar gland and possess a stalked rachis gland between the upper pairs of pinnae (6).<o:p></o:p>

Compound: Mar mil

Geographic Origin: Southwestern North America

Ecozone Origin: Nearctic

Biome Origin:

Natural History: Native to southeastern Arizona and adjacent northwestern Mexico where it grows on slopes and in canyons at the upper elevations of desert habitats as well as in semi desert grassland and oak woodlands. In Mexico, the species also occurs in thorn scrub (3). Milfoil wattle is a part of the Acacia family coming from the Greek word akakie. Akakie is taken from the ake/akis meaning stick. The word milfoil means many leaves.

Cultivation Notes: Milfoil wattle is excellent for native gardening landscapes. However, they are hardly ever planted as a landscape shrub. The white/cream-colored blooms are very showing and make a great background plant edition. This plant tends to be on the lighter side of watering, but irrigation is needed in periods of extended drought. Milfoil wattle has a long dormancy period and tends to have papery fruits that can become a liter issue (3).

Ethnobotany: Unknown, but with great potential as a landscape ornamental tree, given its small size, and showy flowers and delicate canopy texture. Related plants in the same species have ethnobotany uses. (3, 4, 6)

Height: 6 - 10 feet

Width:

Growth Rate: Moderate Growing

Grow Season: Summer

Flower Season: Summer

Color: White

Function:

Spread: Non-spreading

Allergen: Non-allergenic

Invasive: Benign

Toxicity:

Hardy: Semi-hardy

Water Use: Moderate Water Use

Citations:

Alert