Wait-a-Minute Bush
Catclaw Mimosa
Mimosa aculeaticarpa biuncifera
Drawn from specimen found in the Mazatzal Mts., Maricopa Co., Arizona, USA, 20 July 1992.
The flowers are attractive to many insects such as native bees and butterflies. A variety of insects also use this plant including the Giant Scale Insect and Orange Skipperling shown in the thumb links below.
Cottony Giant Scale Orange Skipperling
ARMED: The fiercly sharp thorns appear in pairs along
the stems and are hook-shaped. Digging into the flesh of those pushing through,
these thorns often make retreat difficult but necessary.
LEAVES: Double-compound leaves are finely dissected into extremely small
leaflets. Like many mimosas the leaves fold up, but slowly, when disturbed or
cut and also at night.
RANGE: In the Sonoran Desert of Arizona this shrub occurs at upper
elevations and into chaparral.
SHRUB: Woody shrub with rather thin flexible branches reaching mostly 2
meters in height.
FLOWERS: Many small flowers with conspicuous stamens and minute petals
are arranged into spheres of cream-white or in some varieties, pinkish.
FRUIT: Even the bean pods often have a thorn or two along the margin. The pods are reddish-brown, and are conspicuous when borne in abundance following a strong rainy season.
