Mimosa dysocarpa – Velvetpod Mimosa

Mimosa dysocarpa - Velvetpod Mimosa, Velvet Pod Mimosa, Gatuño, Gatuno

Mimosa dysocarpa - Velvetpod Mimosa, Velvet Pod Mimosa, Gatuño, Gatuno

Plant Name

Scientific Name: Mimosa dysocarpa

Common Names: Velvetpod Mimosa, Velvet Pod Mimosa, Gatuño, Gatuno

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial, Deciduous

Growth Habit: Shrub

Arizona Native Status: Native

Habitat: Desert (upper elevation), Upland

Flower Color: Light pink to dark pink

Flowering Season: Summer

Height: To 6 feet (1.8 m) tall

Description: The flowers are clustered on brush-like, cylindrical flower spikes. Each individual flower in the cluster has 10, 1/2 inch (1.3 cm) long stamens. The flowers are followed by velvety bean pods. The leaves are bipinnately compound with paired, green leaflets. The branches have large, sharp thorns.

Special Characteristics

Allergenic – The pollen is a mild allergen.

Butterfly Plant – The flowers attract butterflies.

Classification

Kingdom: Plantae – Plants
Subkingdom: Tracheobionta – Vascular plants
Superdivision: Spermatophyta – Seed plants
Division: Magnoliophyta – Flowering plants
Class: Magnoliopsida – Dicotyledons
Subclass: Rosidae
Order: Fabales
Family: Fabaceae – Pea family
Genus: Mimosa L. – sensitive plant
Species: Mimosa dysocarpa Benth. – velvetpod mimosa

More About This Plant

Arizona County Distribution Map