Delightful Daleas

There are several species of Dalea in Sabino. All have pea flowers (if you look closely) and foliage, but not the fruit. 

Photo credits: top © Audrey, Eve, & George DeLange

lower © Max Licher

Whiteflower Prairie Clover

Photo by Marty Horowitz

Dalea (Dalea pringlei) 

Photo by Matt Ball

Indigo Bush (Dalea pulchra)

Hope you enjoyed giving Peas a glance!

More two of three

Photo credits: plant in hand © Ned Harris; flower © Matt Ball;
fruit © 2016 T. Beth Kinsey

Tepary Bean plants have typical pea flowers and fruits.

Photo credits: entire plant photo no longer online;  flower Tohono Chul plant database;
fruit © 2016 T. Beth Kinsey

There are a number of Acmispon (formerly known as Lotus) species in Sabino. all have the typical pea flower and fruit, (but not the foliage) like the Desert Rock Pea.

Two of Three

Photo credits: fruit © Ned Harris; © Matt Ball

Fairy Duster has the typical pea-pattern foliage and the pea-pod fruit.

Photo credits: Elegant © Ned Harris;
fruit © Carol Tornow; Desert © 2016 T. Beth Kinsey

Both species of Lupine have the pea flower and fruit (but not the foliage). Elegant Lupine prefers the sandy soil in the dam area; Desert Lupine generally grows taller.

Mesquite and Mimosa

Velvet Mesquite and Wait-a-minute Bush (aka Catclaw Mimosa) have the pea foliage and fruits.

Photo credits: Fruit 2016 T. Beth Kinsey; foliage, flowers © Ned Harris

The red and black insects on the Velvet Mesquite foliage above are not-yet-adult Giant Mesquite Bugs.

Photo © Bob Wenrick

Click here for photo of fruit

Let's call them Acacias

All three of our Acacia species are actually no longer in that genus. But we'll continue to call them Acacias, because that's easier : -) All are of the 'two of three, must be a pea' method of i.d.

Photos  © 2016 T. Beth Kinsey

White-thorn Acacia has the foliage and the fruit - but not the typical pea flower. Two out of three, though, makes it a pea.

Photos © Ned Harris

Cat Claw Acacia also has the foliage and fruit. Two of three, must be a pea. And it is!

The other (former) Acacia is White Ball Acacia (Acaciella angustissima). Not very many of these in Sabino, but they look like the link above. Again, foliage and fruit are typical pea.

AZ State Trees are Peas

Some sites say that only the Blue Palo Verde is the AZ State Tree. But we're going to take both of them! Trees are not in a special category of plants; they are simply big plants.

Photo credits: foliage © Ned Harris; flower, fruits © 2016 T. Beth Kinsey

The Blue Palo Verde blooms first around mid-March. When it has leaves, they are larger than those of the Foothills Palo Verde. Both can drop their leaves in drought conditions with no (major) ill effects; they can continue to photosynthesize in their stems and branches. The Blue Palo Verde has a 5 petaled flower, as you'd expect. All 5 petals are the same bright yellow. The Blue Palo Verde blooms earlier than the Foothills Palo Verde.  The fruit is a pod. Dried fruits in the photo above.

Photo by Marty Horowitz 3/19/2016

Photo credits: foliage, flower  © 2016 T. Beth Kinsey
fruits © 2000 ASDM

The Foothills Palo Verde has tiny leaves, but still the same line-down-the-middle-leaf-on-either-side pattern. The flower is 5 petaled with a white banner petal. When the fruits are first developing (bright green), they are tasty, like a snow pea.
Our state trees are perfect peas.

Perfect Peas

Photo credits: left  © 2016 T. Beth Kinsey
top © Matt Ball, bottom two © Ned Harris

Coursetia (aka Baby Bonnets) is the perfect pea - three for three. Note the foliage in the upper right. Line down the middle, leaf on either side; the flower has the classic banner, wings, and fused keel. And the fruit is - that's right - a pod. They were blooming in Sabino in March. Look for fruit this month.

Both photos © Ned Harris

Desert Senna also counts as a perfect pea. Foliage - check; flower - 5 petals; fruit - pod. This plant blooms nearly year round, and you can often find flowers and old fruits on the same plant at the same time.