University of Arizona Campus Arboretum

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The tree of the week is Senegalia greggii, or catclaw acacia. It gets its name from the spines on its stem, which can be up to a quarter of an inch long and, unlike other acacias, are curved like a cat’s claw. It's also called the "wait-a-minute" tree because if you’re snagged, you have to “wait a minute” and unhook yourself from the tree’s claws!

It’s not all vicious, though, the Senegalia greggii also has fragrant cream-colored flowers that occur in dense spikes and have been used by indigenous women as a type of perfume.

Historically, its young, unripe beans were an important food source for many southwestern tribes, and its wood was used for construction, tools, baskets, fences, and furniture. A native to the desert Southwest, its specific epithet honors Josiah Gregg, a botanist and author who explored the American Southwest and northern Mexico in the early 1800’s. 

Edition: 
Phoenix
Tucson
Issue: 
April 2017