Dalea spinosa A. Gray
Psorothamnus spinosus (A. Gray) Barneby Smoke tree, smokethorn, smokethorn dalea, Corona de Cristo
The smoke tree is native to western North America. Identification: This is a large shrub or small tree, heavily branched and irregular in shape, spiny, up to 20′ (6.1 m) tall. The tree is nearly leafless, but has small bluish-gray wedge-shaped leaves that are widest near the top, ¼″ (8.5 mm) long. Flowers are dark purple to deep blue, pea-shaped, ¼-5/16″ (6.3-8.3 mm) across, in loose clusters. Fruits are roughly egg-shaped, ¼″ (8.3 mm) long, one end pointed, with dark red glands. |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
These similar species are most easily distinguished by leaf shape: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
You are here Psorothamnus spinosus |
Psorothamnus schottii |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Common Name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Plant | Large shrub or small tree, heavily branched, irregular in shape, spiny, up to 20′ (6.1 m) tall. | Large, densely branched spiny shrub, reaching 10′ (3 m). | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Flowers | Dark purple to deep blue, pea-shaped flowers, ¼-5/16″ (6.3-8.3 mm) across, in loose clusters. | Deep purple-blue, pea-shaped flowers, ¼-5/16″ (6.3-8.3 mm) across, in loose 4-inch-long clusters. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leaves | Nearly leafless, but has small bluish-gray wedge-shaped leaves that are widest near the top, ¼″ (8.5 mm) long. | Needle-shaped, ½-1″ (1.3-2.5 cm) long and only 1/16″ (1.6 mm) wide, blue-gray or green. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Fruit | Roughly egg-shaped, ¼″ (8.3 mm) long, one end pointed, with dark red spots. | Fruits are roughly egg-shaped, ¼″ (8.3 mm) long, with raised dark red spots. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Range/ Zones | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Habitats | Creosote bush scrub | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Type | Wild | Wild |
Online References:
The Virginia Tech Department of Forest Resources and Environmental Conservation
SEINet—the Southwest Environmental Information Network
Dalea spinosa A. Gray
Psorothamnus spinosus description by Thomas H. Kent, last updated 16 Sep 2020.
Range: