Viscid Acacia
Vachellia vernicosa
Family: Fabaceae
Very similar to whitethorn acacia (Vachellia constricta). Viscid acacia is distinguished form whitethorn acacia by having 1-2 (occasionally 3) pairs of leaflets (3-7 in whitethorn acacia), resinous foliage and a consistently shorter stature, up to about 10 feet though most often found much shorter, at about 5-6 feet tall. The stems (which are not as dense in viscid acacia) arch upward giving the shrubs an almost wispy look. Fragrant yellow puffball flowers occur June through August, followed by slim legume pods.
Grow in full sun, moderate to low water once established, good drainage, plants are hardy to 0°F.
Butterfly larval plant food for the Mexican yellow (Eurema mexicana), the mimosa yellow (Pyrisitia nise), and the Reakirt’s blue (Echinargus isola). Moth larval food plant for the black witch moth (Ascalapha odorata), Merry melipotis moth (Melipotis jucunda), Mesquite stinger flannel moth (Norape tenera), Navel orangeworm moth (Amyelois transitella).
Acacia species were traditionally used as food, fuel, tools and building materials by Native American tribes in the region since prehistoric times. The seeds of many species were dried, pounded and ground into a coarse meal for mush, porridge or cakes.
Rocky slopes and plains, often in calcareous soils; primarily of the Chihuahuan Desert in scrub and grasslands but also in west-central Sonoran Desert; 2500-5500 ft. in southeastern Arizona, southern New Mexico, western Texas and into northern Mexico.
Formerly Acacia constricta var. vernicosa or Acacia neovernicosa. Acacia is from Greek akakie taken from ake or akis, -a sharp point-, the latin vernicosa means -varnished- or -shiny- and neo refers to -new-.
Vauquelinia californica subsp. sonorensis
Photo by luislarios, iNaturalist
Vauquelinia californica subsp. pauciflora
Photo by saundersdrukker, iNaturalist