Vachellia constricta facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vachellia constricta |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Vachellia
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| Species: |
constricta
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| Synonyms | |
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Acacia constricta Benth. |
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Vachellia constricta, also known as the whitethorn acacia, is a type of shrub. It grows naturally in Mexico and the Southwestern United States. You can also find smaller groups of these plants in Virginia and Maryland.
Where It Grows
In the Southwestern United States, Vachellia constricta grows in the southern part of Arizona. It also reaches into New Mexico and West Texas. In Mexico, it grows as far south as Oaxaca. There are also small groups in Baja California and the Magdalena Plain in Baja California Sur.
In the Sonoran Desert, this plant likes to grow in dry streambeds called arroyos and washes. It usually blooms in late spring, from April to May. It can bloom again later in the year, from July to October. For the plant to bloom, it needs a certain amount of rain. After the rain, it also needs warm weather.
What It Looks Like
Vachellia constricta usually grows about 2 meters (6.5 feet) tall. Sometimes, it can even reach 6 meters (nearly 20 feet) high. Its stems can be light gray or a reddish-brown color. They have pairs of straight white spines. These spines are about 0.5 to 2 centimeters (0.2 to 0.8 inches) long.
The leaves are small and have many tiny leaflets. They are usually 2.5 to 4 centimeters (1 to 1.6 inches) long. Each leaf has 3 to 9 pairs of branches. On each branch, there are 4 to 16 pairs of even smaller leaflets. These tiny leaflets are about 3.5 millimeters long and 1 millimeter wide.
The flowers are small and yellow, shaped like balls. Each flower ball is about 1 centimeter (0.4 inches) across. These flowers do not offer much nectar or pollen. Because of this, not many insects visit them. The plant also has special glands on its main leaf stems. These glands produce a sweet liquid that attracts ants. The seed pods are long and thin. They can be up to 12 centimeters (4.7 inches) long. But they are only 3 to 6 millimeters (0.1 to 0.2 inches) wide.
The leaves of the plant can fall off. This happens if the weather gets too dry or too cold.
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Vachellia constricta seed pods
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Vachellia constricta tree.
How People Use It
Vachellia constricta is grown by special plant nurseries. People buy it as an ornamental plant. This means it is grown for its beauty in gardens. It is often used in gardens that copy the look of a native plant desert habitat. You can train it to grow as a small tree. It can also be grown as a thick hedge to create a barrier.
See also
In Spanish: Chaparro prieto para niños
