View crop

Parkinsonia aculeata

Authority	L.
Family	Magnoliopsida:Rosidae:Fabales:Leguminosae
Synonyms
Common names	Barbados flowerfence, horsebean, Jerusalem-thorn, Mexican paloverde, sessaban
Editor
Ecocrop code	1617

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A small evergreen spiny tree reaching 4-10 m in height and a trunk diameter of up to 40 cm. The trunk is often crooked and branched near the ground. Branches spreading and crown open. USES Foliage and pods are browsed and can be used as fodder. Wood is used for firewood and charcoal. Seeds are edible. The tree is used for hedges, erosion control in sandy, arid areas and planted as an ornamental. Mentioned as a possible agroforestry species. GROWING PERIOD Short-lived and fast-growing perennial. Young fertilized plants can grow up to 1 m annually. Withstands droughts of up to 9 months. COMMON NAMES Horse bean tree, Jerusalem thorn, Palo de rayo, Mexican paloverde, Blue paloverde, Retama, Sessaban, Hanson sessabani, Barbados flower fence, Illuvia de oro, Junco marino, Sulfato, Acacia de aguijote, Sauce guajiro, Espino, Espinillo, Pauji, Mattaburro, Cina-cina, Madam naiz, Arrete-boeuf, Boonchi strena, Wonder-tree, Mbarkasoni, Hanson sessabani, Sessaban, Vilayati kikar, Vilayati babul. FURTHER INF In the tropics, horse bean tree can be grown at altitudes between sea level and 2400 m, in the subtropics up to 1300 m. The species is indigenous to Central and South America. The tree occur naturally within the latitudinal range of 30°N-10°S. In its native range it occur in semidesert vegetation, mainly in desert valleys and desert grassland zones. The tree reproduces so easily that it can escape from controlled cultivation and become a weed. The tree is drought hardy and regenerates rapidly.
Sources
Grassland Index Little E 1983 pp 205-207 [USE, LIMIT, LIG, TEMP, KTMP, RAIN, TEXT, DRA, SAL] Webb D 1984 pp 201 [RAIN, TEMP, TEXT, PH, DRA, SAL, LIG, USE] AGLS A 1991 pp 31 40 Edwards S 1984 pp 230 Goodin J 1990 pp 38 National RC 1980 pp 140 INSPIRE species 118 [RAIN, TEMP, TEXT, PH, DRA, SAL, LIG, USE] Maydell H 1986 pp 343 [FER, TEXT, DRA, SAL, RAIN, KTMP, USE] Hensleight T 1988 pp 382 [TEMP, KTMP, RAIN, FER, SAL, DRA, USE]