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