Mimosa texana

Texas mimosa
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae
(unranked): Angiosperms
(unranked): Eudicots
(unranked): Rosids
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae
Subfamily: Caesalpinioideae[1]
(unranked): Mimosoid clade[1]
Genus: Mimosa
Species: M. texana
Binomial name
Mimosa texana
(A. Gray) Small
Synonyms
  • Mimosa biuncifera
  • Mimosa borealis var. texana
  • Mimosa wherryana
  • Mimopsis wherryana[2]

Mimosa texana is a shrub in the Fabaceae family. It is commonly known as the Texas mimosa, the Texas catclaw or the Wherry mimosa and is endemic to upland regions of Mexico and Texas.[2] This species used to be classified as Mimosa biuncifera but it was found that phenotypic variations occurred across its range and a new taxonomy was proposed by Rupert C. Barneby in 1986, splitting the species into Mimosa aculeaticarpa var. biuncifera and Mimosa texana.[3]

Distribution

Texas mimosa is found on alkaline soils in Mexico and Zapata and Starr counties in the state of Texas. It is uncommon and grows on caliche and gravelly hillsides.[4]

Description

This species is a straggly, much branched, deciduous shrub of up to two metres tall. It has slender, zigzag, dark coloured twigs clad in backward pointing prickles. The alternate bi-pinnate leaves have medium-sized leaflets. The globular flowers are creamy-white and cover the bush in the spring. They are intensely fragrant and attract numerous insects. The seed pods are brick red and flattened, with prickly edges.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 The Legume Phylogeny Working Group (LPWG). (2017). "A new subfamily classification of the Leguminosae based on a taxonomically comprehensive phylogeny". Taxon. 66 (1): 44–77. doi:10.12705/661.3.
  2. 1 2 USDA
  3. ↑ Re-evaluation of Mimosa biuncifera and M. texana (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae)
  4. 1 2 Museum of Learning: Mimosa texana
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