Retama

Parkinsonia aculeata C. Linnaeus

Fabaceae : Caesalpinioideae

Bright yellow blooms cover this tree in early May and persist until Fall. It is a spiny, small (up to 32') tree that, in my opinion, rivals any tree cultivated for its Springtime blooms. And not only that, the Retama's light airy foliage continues the beauty when the flowers are gone. Retama is semi-deciduous, shedding its leaves during harsh winters or very dry spells. The green branches and flattened raches are photosynthetic and fill in during the time the plant is leafless. During droughts, the leaflets will fall, leaving the bare raches which also photosynthesize.

For those of us that love the popular TV show CSI, there is an interesting tidbit of trivia involving this tree. A Retama tree was the first plant whose DNA was used in a criminal case (1993). The murderer's vehicle was linked to the crime scene when seed pods found in the vehicle were compared to the tree at the scene.

Native Americans enjoyed eating the seeds of Retama. They were dried in the sun for storage and later parched over dry heat before consumption.

There is some controversy about whether this tree is actually a Texas native or is introduced from South America. I like it, so I tend to lean to the side of those who say it is a native :) Of course, in some tropical and subtropical areas (California, Florida, Australia and the West Indies) it is considered a noxious weed that aggressively naturalizes low moist places - its evil side if you will.

Behind the Name :

Also commonly known as Paloverde, Horse-Bean, Jerusalem-Thorn and Mexican Paloverde.

Parkinsonia -

Named after John Parkinson (1567-1650), 17th century herbalist; He was "King's Herbalist" to James I.

aculeata -

From aculeat; Meaning with prickles, thorns or stings

Parkinsonia is a genus of 3 or 4 species in the warmer parts of America and South Africa.

Tags :

native Texas wildflower, Texas native wildflower, Texas native plant, edible plant, edible seeds, perennial, small tree, semi-deciduous, full sun, yellow flowers, Spring flowers, Summer flowers, Fall flowers, alternate leaves, compound leaves, attractive foliage, large flowers, garden worthy, Leguminosae, Pea family, Bean family, Palo Verde, Caesalpiniaceae subfamily

Related Links :

• Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: species account
• USDA PLANTS Database: plant profile (shows seeds)
• Dave's Garden: plant details and seed availability