MIMOSACEAE 



divided and the stems are fortified with heavy curved thorns. The 

 shrub is commonly low and spreading and as it occupies dry draws 

 and canyons, is frequently a noteworthy soil binder. One reason 

 for its excellence is the fact that stock do not normally enjoy 

 negotiating the dense stands of the shrub. This shrub is wide- 

 spread through western Texas and the southern half of New Mexico 

 and most of Arizona. Naturally it extends into Old Mexico but it 

 is not reported from southern California. It has very little value 

 as forage but the extremely abundant small peas must constitute a 

 good part of the bird food during the fall and winter. This plant 

 is well worthy of work in selection and hybridization although it 

 is in many places a distinct pest. 



*Mimosa dysocarpa is much loss abundant in our range and does 

 not extend as far north as does M. biuncifera. It is very similar 

 in habit but commonly docs not grow as tall and consequently is a 

 somewhat more desirable shrub. The flowers are pink and form short 

 spikes and during the blooming time arc a beautiful sight on the 

 desert. The seed pods of this species are curious in that they 

 fall apart in segments, each segment carrying a seed. 



Mimosa lemmoni is a rare shrub in extreme southern New Mexico 

 and southern Arizona. It does not grow as tall as the other two 

 Mimosas mentioned. Its leaves are thorny as well as the stems and 

 branches. Even the pods are armed with curved thorns. It is com- 

 parable in erosion control to M. dysocarpa. 



Morongia occidentalis is a semi-herbaceous vine occurring in 

 western Texas and adjoining New Mexico. It is prostrate, has fine- 

 ly divided leaves and is armed with numerous curved thorns. With 

 us it is very rare but its prostrate habit and drought resistance 

 suggest it as having possibilities for erosion control. 



**Desmodium cinerascens is a tall perennial legume with some- 

 what woody base and erect, branching stems two or three feet in 

 height. It has trifoliate, reticulately veined leaves and pods 

 which form loments. The group, Desmodium, is often referred to as 

 the Tick Trefoil because the pods have a way of breaking apart at 

 the segments and frequently stick to a person's clothing. This 

 plant is abundant in limited areas in the mountains of extreme south- 

 ern Arizona at altitudes of 3*000 to 5*000 feet. It is not usually 

 sufficiently abundant to be a great factor in erosion control but 

 with some human encouragement it may prove to be worthwhile. Its 

 palatability is probably rather low. 



**This should follow Acschynomene, p. 93* 



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