About Mariosousa heterophylla (Rose) Seigler & Ebinger
Mariosousa heterophylla (Rose) Seigler & Ebinger is a very slender tree that grows 10–20 feet or taller in height, with a spread equal to 1/3 to 2/3 of its height. It produces few branches and few leaves. Its petiolar-rachis is characteristically long and functions as a cladophyll. The bark is white or yellow, and peels off. Its compound leaves typically carry 5–6 leaflets at their end. This species may drop its leaves during autumn and winter. Flowers are arranged in pale yellow spikes, and have a catkin-like, rod-like, or bottle-brush shape, and are white or pale yellow in color. The seed pods are multichambered, and mature specimens reach 3–4 inches in length. This plant is endemic to Sonora, Mexico, where it grows in the Sonoran Desert. It prefers rocky bajadas, slopes, and arroyos at elevations between 0 and 2,000 feet. It is a popular ornamental tree in arid regions, particularly in the southwestern United States.
