Our mystery seeds from last week must have stumped everyone. They were from a catclaw acacia tree, Acacia greggii.

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Catclaw acacias are named for their hefty curved thorns that resemble a “cat’s claws.”

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As with many southwestern “trees,” catclaw acacias are somewhat shrubby. They become more tree-like over time, however, and live well over 100 years.

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Right now they are in full bloom in Arizona. We encountered these trees while hiking and you could smell them quite a ways away. The flowers have a very strong odor.

 

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Many insects were visiting the flowers. Do you see any in the photograph above?

Have you ever smelled a catclaw acacia in full bloom? What do you think it smells like?