catclaw acacia Fabaceae Acacia greggii A. Gray symbol: ACGR Leaf: Alternate, bipinnately compound, 1 to 2 inches long, with 1 to 3 pairs of major leaflets, 4 to 6 pairs of minor leaflets (1/4 inch long), dull green. Flower: Species is monoecious; pale yellow in tight elongated, showy clusters, 2 to 3 inches long, fragrant, appearing in spring and early summer. Fruit: A 3 to 6 inch long, 1/2 inch wide, flattened, very twisted legume, brown, maturing in mid to late summer. Twig: Slender, brown, angled, with numerous stout backward curving spines (1/4 inch); buds sunken in leaf scar. Bark: Gray-brown, becoming heavily fissured and furrowed with age. Form: A thicket forming shrub or small tree that can reach heights of 30 feet. Looks like: screwbean mesquite - Texas ebony - fairy duster - whitethorn acacia Additional Range Information: Acacia greggii is native to North America. Range may be expanded by planting. See states reporting catclaw acacia. More: Fall Color External Links: USDAFS Additional Silvics USDA Plants Database © Copyright 2016, Virginia Tech Dept. of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation, all rights reserved. Photos and text by: John Seiler, Edward Jensen, Alex Niemiera, and John Peterson