Common Name:
white thorn acacia, mescat
Family Name:
Fabaceae
Botanical Name:
Acacia constricta
Sub Species:
Variety:
Forma:
Cultivar:
Characteristics:
Acacia constricta is a shrub/small tree. It has alternate bipinnate leaves that are one to two inches long. The pinnae are found in three to seven pairs per leaf with six to sixteen pairs of leaflets per pinna. There are two very small spines derived from stipules at each node. The bark on its trunk and branches is dark brown to black in color and maybe smooth or slightly rough. The bark on younger twigs is purple-gray to reddish. Its small yellow flowers grow in round, dense heads, and are very fragrant. The heads are one fourth to one third inches in diameter. Fruiting occurs from July through September. The pods are slender reddish brown about two to five inches long and up to one sixteenths inches wide, and are distinctively constricted between the seeds. It has white thorns that are about one and a half inch in length. A. constricta are deciduous, and drop their leaves during cold periods and periods of drought. Both winter and summer rains trigger flowering. The flowers are extremely sweet-scented and fill the desert air with fragrance on spring and summer nights.
Compound:
Aca con
Geographic Origin:
Desert Southwest
Ecozone Origin:
Nearctic
Biome Origin:
Natural History:
Acacia constricta, otherwise known as “whitethorn acacia” is native to desert regions of North America and Mexico. Its characteristic drought tolerant features allow it to thrive in dry desert soils. It is common for this plant to be found in washes and rocky hills where it can scavenge for the scarce water found in its surrounding environment. Its distribution spans through deserts of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada and other states of northern Mexico. When it blooms, it attracts bees with its aromatic flowers. Both native and non-native bees use the flowers as a source of nectar. This plant also forms a small part of the diet of some domestic and wild animals. Some birds (including quail) consume the seeds. Jack rabbits eat the foliage, and when food is scarce cattle eat the pods. Rodents gather seeds, catching and losing some, thus aiding in dispersal.
Cultivation Notes:
A. constricta is found in the form of a large bush or small tree. Optimal soil conditions for growth include loose, well-drained sandy to loamy soils. This plant thrives in full sun conditions. A. constricta exhibits drought tolerance, and prospers with minimum watering and succeeds in dry soils. This species is not commonly propagated through grafting or cuttings; instead it is fairly easily propagated through seeds. It is hardy down to 5 degrees Fahrenheit, but will lose its leaves.
Ethnobotany:
A. constricta is often used as a barrier, or planted on a bank to control erosion.
Native Americans of Arizona and New Mexico use white thorn acacia fruits to make pinole. Tea can be made from the flowers, which exhibits sedative properties.
Height:
11 - 15 feet
Width:
11 - 15 feet
Growth Rate:
Fast Growing
Grow Season:
Spring
Flower Season:
Spring
Color:
Yellow
Function:
Patio
Spread:
Spreading
Allergen:
Allergenic
Invasive:
Benign
Toxicity:
Toxic
Hardy:
Hardy
Water Use:
Low water Use
