Kingdom Plantae Family Fabaceae Tribe Robinieae Scientific name Robinia neomexicana Rank Species | Order Fabales Subfamily Faboideae Genus Robinia Higher classification Robinia | |
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Similar Robinia, Legumes, Robinia viscosa, Robinia hispida, Quercus gambelii | ||
Robinia neomexicana, the New Mexican locust, New Mexico, Southwest, Desert, Pink, or rose locust), is a shrub or small tree in the subfamily Faboideae of the pea family Fabaceae.
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Distribution
R. neomexicana is native to the Southwestern United States (southeastern California and southwestern Utah, Virgin River region, east through Arizona and New Mexico, the Rio Grande valley, to far west Texas) and adjoining northern Mexico; from central New Mexico the range extends north into Colorado, mostly the eastern foothills of the Rocky Mountains. In Arizona, it ranges across the Arizona transition zone, the Mogollon Rim and White Mountains, and into western and southwestern New Mexico.
In California, it is uncommon below 1500 m (5000 ft) in canyons in the Mojave Desert and its sky island pinyon-juniper habitats (Pinus monophylla and Juniperus californica). Farther east, it is typically found between 1200 and 2600 meters (4000 and 8500 feet) along streams, in the bottoms of valleys, and on the sides of canyons.
Description
R. neomexicana grows to 5–10 m tall (rarely to 15 m) with bristly shoots. The leaves are 10–15 cm long, pinnate with 7–15 leaflets; they have a pair of sharp, reddish-brown thorns at the base. The flowers are showy and white or pink, and considered fragrant. Blooms are produced in spring or early summer in dense racemes 5–10 cm long that hang from the branches near the ends. The fruits are brown bean-like pods with bristles like those on the shoots.
Uses
In New Mexico, Pueblo Native Americans traditionally ate the flowers uncooked.
Mule deer, cattle, and goats browse the plant foliage. Squirrels and quail eat the locust's seeds.
