Title: Plant Answers
Headings: 
SELECTED LIST OF NATIVE PLANTS FOR LANDSCAPE BEAUTIFICATION
TREES

Content: some spines; dark green pinnate foliage; elongated, cream-colored catkin‑ like flowers which are followed by numerous long, cylindrical, bean-like pods that contain 10 to 20 seeds enclosed in a thick sweet pulp. Mesquite beans are used by native peoples as food and are also valuabel as feed for livestock. The dark reddish wood is used for fuel and making fence posts. PALO VERDE (Short Leaf Retama) Cercidium macrum (floridum) (Leguminosae). A spreading, somewhat thorny tree having bright green bark; very short, deep-green leaves; showy, bright yellow Retama-like flowers with a touch of red at the base of the petals which are followed by rather short, flat, tan seedpods. Texas Palo Verde ( Cercidium texanum) is more bush-like in its habit of growth and is very thorny.