Kingdom Plantae Family Fabaceae Scientific name Caesalpinia mexicana Rank Species | Order Fabales Genus Caesalpinia Higher classification Caesalpinia | |
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Similar Caesalpinia, Legumes, Caesalpinia gilliesii, Calliandra californica, Calliandra eriophylla | ||
Caesalpinia mexicana is a species of flowering plant in the pea family, Fabaceae. Common names include Mexican holdback, Mexican caesalpinia, and tabachín del monte. It is native to the extreme lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas in the United States and south to central Mexico. Its range in Mexico includes the northeast and further south along the Gulf coast as well as the Pacific coast in Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, and a small portion of Sinaloa.
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Description
Mexican caesalpinia is a small evergreen tree or large shrub, reaching a height of 3–4.6 m (9.8–15.1 ft) and a spread of 1.8–3 m (5.9–9.8 ft). Leaves are bipinnately-compound and dark green. Each leaf has five to nine pinnae 4–9 cm (1.6–3.5 in) in length. Pinnae are composed of four to five leaflets that are 1–2.5 cm (0.39–0.98 in) long and 0.7–1.3 cm (0.28–0.51 in) wide. Yellow, slightly fragrant flowers are produced on 7.6–15.2 cm (3.0–6.0 in) terminal spikes of 10 to 30. Blooming takes place from February to July, often continuing to October. The fruit is a dehiscent tan or yellow seedpod 5.1–7.6 cm (2.0–3.0 in) in length.
Uses
Mexican caesalpinia is cultivated as an ornamental because of its showy flowers, lush, fine-textured foliage, and drought tolerance.
Ecology
Caesalpinia mexicana is the host plant for the caterpillars of the curve-winged metalmark (Emesis emesia).
