Larval food plant for the marine blue butterfly (Leptotes marina) and moth larval food plant for the various owlet moths (family Noctuidae), and geometer moths (family Geometridae). Flowers attract butterflies and lots of other nectar feeders.
Mariosousa honors Mario Sousa, former Director of the Herbarium of the Instituto de Biología (MEXU), Universidad Autónoma de Mexico, who has done extensive work in Acacia systematics, while millefolia means many leaved referring to the numerous tiny leaflets of the species. There are 14 species of Mariosousa restricted in range to Central America, Mexico, and the southwestern United States
Found in rocky canyons and on hillsides from 4,000-5,500 ft. in southern Arizona, southwestern New Mexico; south into northern Mexico.
Mariosousa millefolia
Santa Rita Acacia
Family: Fabaceae
Deciduous shrub growing to about 12’x15’, can be trained into a multi-trunk tree. Fragrant, white, catkin flowers appear in warm weather, followed by papery seed pods.
Grow in full to part sun, with moderate water, hardy to at least 20°F.
Mariosousa millefolia on SEINET
Photo by Doug Taron, iNaturalist