94 TREES AND SHR1 BS 



Mesquite (Prosopis glandultfsa) is one of the best 

 known and most characteristic plants of the arid Southwest, 

 though the common name is applied to several nearly related 

 species. In southern New Mexico it is a plant of great 

 economic importance. The flowers furnish the best of nectar 

 for honey making, the leaves and pods are eaten by all kinds 

 of grazing animals. The large roots and thickened bases of 

 the stems furnish the best fuel of the region. As a graceful 

 branching shrub for a dry situation it has no equal, giving an 

 impression very similar to the pepper tree, though not assum- 

 ing the tree form. 



The Cat Claws or Gatunas. genus Mimosa, arc repre- 

 sented by 5 all of which arc closely alike. They are 

 characterized by hocked triangular spines very much like the 

 claw of a cat. and small white or pinkish flowers, usually 

 or. Mostly they arc widely branching low shrubs 

 of no very gnat importance. One or two of them might be 

 used in cultivate >n. 



The Bird of Paradise Tree (Poinciana gillesii) is an 



introduced shrub of South American origin which is used 



somewhat extensively for decorative pi - in the southern 



>f the State. It is the only shrubby representative of the 



na family (Cassiaceae). It is an ill smelling erect shrub, 

 sparingly branched, with green stems 6 to 8 feet high. The 

 leaves are quite large, twice compound and with very numer- 



small leaflets. The flowers are la i ,- an inch I< 



with bright yellow petals and long red stamens and pis 

 1 he frail is a large flat pod. which is explosive when dry. 



MIMOSACEAE. Mimosa Family 



thrills rusceul pereunials with >pin\ and bi- 



pinnatcl.\ compound leaves will! usually numerous small leal 

 flowers regular, small, in axillary pedunculate heads or sp 



1- or 5-parted (sometimes wautii g ii Aeui i ; c irolla : 4 or 

 "> distinct <>r united petals; stamens 5 to lo or numerous, distinct or 



