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Parkinsonia aculeata

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Fabales Family: Fabaceae Genus: Parkinsonia

Jerusalem thorn, Mexican palo verde

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Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Shrubby trees 3–10 m tall, bark green, smooth.

Stems: Branches armed with strong spines of stipular or leaf rachis origin.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves compound. Alternate. Leaves with primary rachis spine-like, with 1–3 congested pairs of pinnae, secondary rachises green and flattened, leaflets 14–40 pairs, distinctly scattered, elliptic to narrowly obovate, 2–10 mm long, 1–4 mm wide, numerous; rachis flattened, persistent. Leaflet margins entire. Petiolate. Stipules various, minute and spinescent.

Flowers: Flowers in axillary racemes. Flowers caesalpinaceous. Pedicels jointed, bracts minute, scale-like, caducous, bracteoles absent, 2–3 cm in diameter, in racemes shorter than the pinnae. Calyx lobes 5, 4–6 mm long, reflexed. Corolla yellow, 10–14 mm long, erose, claws ca. 1/2 as long as limbs, corolla of 5 petals, subequal, spreading. Stamens 10, distinct, alternately longer and shorter. Ovary superior, stipitate; ovules 2–6.

Fruit: Pods linear–cylindrical; 5–20 cm long; 0.6–1 cm wide; strongly constricted between the seeds. Seeds hard; ellipsoid; greenish mottled with brown or purple; 1–6; ellipsoid–ovoid; 8–10 mm long; 4–6 mm wide.

Ploidy: 2n = 28

Habitat: Dry disturbed sites.

Elevation Range: Low elevations.

Historical Distribution

Images

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Uses and Culture

USES

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Naturalized
Maui Naturalized

Dispersal Agents

Water/Ocean
Birds

Pollinators

Notes

  • Description digitized by Olivia Kraus
  • Description digitized from the Manual of the Flowering Plants of Hawaii
  • low elevation
  • prior to 1920, O'ahu

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 375 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:691 (K, O, M); Staples & Herbst 2005:298 (KEY), 334 (DESCR); Jean Fujikawa pers. comm. 2025 (O†, 2011); Penniman et al. 2011/Mike Ade pers. comm. 2025 (M†, 2002)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Locality Habitat Basis of Record Description Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Parkinsonia aculeata Honolulu Harbor Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 12955 Oahu BISH
2 Parkinsonia aculeata Makiki Valley, Maunalaha Trail, 200m S of intersection with Makiki Valley Trail HUMAN_OBSERVATION Action Method: Ground; Method: Unknown; Correction: N/A; Comment: Maui Invasive Species Committee Oahu HAPI 9/14/2001
3 Parkinsonia aculeata Lower Waianae Valley, mauka of Waianae Intermediate School (UTM 584008, 2372812) Dry Lowland field, mostly Cenchrus ciliaris, with Panicum maximum, Prosopis pallida, occasional Sida fallax. Preserved_Specimen About 6 m tall by 6 m across shrub with caesalpinioid flowers, 5 petals clawed at base, upper petal w/ red spotting or entirely red. No fruits noted. Lau, A. 2009020602 Oahu BISH 2009-02-06
4 Parkinsonia aculeata Quarantine Island Preserved_Specimen Judd, C.S. Oahu BISH 1936-01-17
5 Parkinsonia aculeata Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden. Received as plant from D. Lappala, Princeville, Kauai Preserved_Specimen Corolla yellow; flag with orange spotting. Flynn, T.W. 1526 Kauai BISH 1986-02-19
6 Parkinsonia aculeata - HUMAN_OBSERVATION Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) Maui HAPI 11/2/2009
7 Parkinsonia aculeata W Maui, Ukumehame Preserved_Specimen Shrub of dry, distrurbed roadside. Flowers yellow. Stems die back to root. Herbst, D.R. 5404 Maui BISH 1975-07-08
8 Parkinsonia aculeata National Tropical Botanical Garden, McBryde Garden in Lawai Valley; vicinity of Bamboo Bridge area along upper road HUMAN_OBSERVATION Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) Kauai HAPI 11/2/2009
9 Parkinsonia aculeata Honolulu, Kuhio School grounds Preserved_Specimen Two trees 10 ft. tall, 4 in. diameter, thorns on trunk and on branches; pods like pigeon pea, with 1 (?) dark-brown(?) seed. Yee, M. Oahu BISH 1947-05-02
10 Parkinsonia aculeata East Maui, E of Kahului, at the junction of Hana Highway and Hansen Road. Also found at Papalaua along the road to Lahaina Preserved_Specimen 4 m tall thorny shrub, profusely flowering and setting seed. Hobdy, R.W. 1761 Maui BISH 1983-05-24
11 Parkinsonia aculeata W Maui, Ukumehame Preserved_Specimen Shrub of dry, distrurbed roadside. Flowers yellow. Stems die back to root. Herbst, D.R. 5404 Maui BISH 1975-07-08
12 Parkinsonia aculeata Growing in a private yard in Damon Tract Preserved_Specimen A Small thorny tree with gray trunk. Flowers yellow. Pearsall, S. Oahu BISH 1957-09-05
13 Parkinsonia aculeata Lihue Preserved_Specimen Flowers with 4 yellow petals and 1 bright brick-red petal; + 1 legume. Flowers unplesant-smelling. Davis, C. Kauai BISH 1961-08-16
14 Parkinsonia aculeata Lihue Preserved_Specimen Flowers with 4 yellow petals and 1 bright brick-red petal; + 1 legume. Davis, C. Kauai BISH 1961-12-16
15 Parkinsonia aculeata W Maui Preserved_Specimen Roadside weedy-looking shrub. Jones, D. Maui BISH 1964-08-24
16 Parkinsonia aculeata - HUMAN_OBSERVATION Action Method: Ground; Method: Mapping Grade; Correction: Uncorrected; Comment: GPS Maui Invasive Species Committee Hawaii HAPI 2/28/2006
17 Parkinsonia aculeata Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen A tree 4 m tall and 5 m across with long arching branches. In full sun. Petals creamy yellow to lemon yellow except the lowermost which open canary yellow and ages to orange red. Flower odorless (afternoon). Lau, J. 2493 Oahu BISH 1986-06-02
18 Parkinsonia aculeata Honolulu Harbor Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 12955 Oahu BISH
19 Parkinsonia aculeata Makiki Valley, Maunalaha Trail, 200m S of intersection with Makiki Valley Trail HUMAN_OBSERVATION Action Method: Ground; Method: Unknown; Correction: N/A; Comment: Maui Invasive Species Committee Oahu HAPI 9/14/2001
20 Parkinsonia aculeata Lower Waianae Valley, mauka of Waianae Intermediate School (UTM 584008, 2372812) Dry Lowland field, mostly Cenchrus ciliaris, with Panicum maximum, Prosopis pallida, occasional Sida fallax. Preserved_Specimen About 6 m tall by 6 m across shrub with caesalpinioid flowers, 5 petals clawed at base, upper petal w/ red spotting or entirely red. No fruits noted. Lau, A. 2009020602 Oahu BISH 2009-02-06
21 Parkinsonia aculeata Quarantine Island Preserved_Specimen Judd, C.S. Oahu BISH 1936-01-17
22 Parkinsonia aculeata Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden. Received as plant from D. Lappala, Princeville, Kauai Preserved_Specimen Corolla yellow; flag with orange spotting. Flynn, T.W. 1526 Kauai BISH 1986-02-19
23 Parkinsonia aculeata - HUMAN_OBSERVATION Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) Maui HAPI 11/2/2009
24 Parkinsonia aculeata W Maui, Ukumehame Preserved_Specimen Shrub of dry, distrurbed roadside. Flowers yellow. Stems die back to root. Herbst, D.R. 5404 Maui BISH 1975-07-08
25 Parkinsonia aculeata National Tropical Botanical Garden, McBryde Garden in Lawai Valley; vicinity of Bamboo Bridge area along upper road HUMAN_OBSERVATION Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) Kauai HAPI 11/2/2009
26 Parkinsonia aculeata Honolulu, Kuhio School grounds Preserved_Specimen Two trees 10 ft. tall, 4 in. diameter, thorns on trunk and on branches; pods like pigeon pea, with 1 (?) dark-brown(?) seed. Yee, M. Oahu BISH 1947-05-02
27 Parkinsonia aculeata East Maui, E of Kahului, at the junction of Hana Highway and Hansen Road. Also found at Papalaua along the road to Lahaina Preserved_Specimen 4 m tall thorny shrub, profusely flowering and setting seed. Hobdy, R.W. 1761 Maui BISH 1983-05-24
28 Parkinsonia aculeata W Maui, Ukumehame Preserved_Specimen Shrub of dry, distrurbed roadside. Flowers yellow. Stems die back to root. Herbst, D.R. 5404 Maui BISH 1975-07-08
29 Parkinsonia aculeata Growing in a private yard in Damon Tract Preserved_Specimen A Small thorny tree with gray trunk. Flowers yellow. Pearsall, S. Oahu BISH 1957-09-05
30 Parkinsonia aculeata Lihue Preserved_Specimen Flowers with 4 yellow petals and 1 bright brick-red petal; + 1 legume. Flowers unplesant-smelling. Davis, C. Kauai BISH 1961-08-16
31 Parkinsonia aculeata Lihue Preserved_Specimen Flowers with 4 yellow petals and 1 bright brick-red petal; + 1 legume. Davis, C. Kauai BISH 1961-12-16
32 Parkinsonia aculeata W Maui Preserved_Specimen Roadside weedy-looking shrub. Jones, D. Maui BISH 1964-08-24
33 Parkinsonia aculeata - HUMAN_OBSERVATION Action Method: Ground; Method: Mapping Grade; Correction: Uncorrected; Comment: GPS Maui Invasive Species Committee Hawaii HAPI 2/28/2006
34 Parkinsonia aculeata Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen A tree 4 m tall and 5 m across with long arching branches. In full sun. Petals creamy yellow to lemon yellow except the lowermost which open canary yellow and ages to orange red. Flower odorless (afternoon). Lau, J. 2493 Oahu BISH 1986-06-02
35 Parkinsonia aculeata Honolulu Harbor Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 12955 Oahu BISH
36 Parkinsonia aculeata Makiki Valley, Maunalaha Trail, 200m S of intersection with Makiki Valley Trail HUMAN_OBSERVATION Action Method: Ground; Method: Unknown; Correction: N/A; Comment: Maui Invasive Species Committee Oahu HAPI 9/14/2001
37 Parkinsonia aculeata Lower Waianae Valley, mauka of Waianae Intermediate School (UTM 584008, 2372812) Dry Lowland field, mostly Cenchrus ciliaris, with Panicum maximum, Prosopis pallida, occasional Sida fallax. Preserved_Specimen About 6 m tall by 6 m across shrub with caesalpinioid flowers, 5 petals clawed at base, upper petal w/ red spotting or entirely red. No fruits noted. Lau, A. 2009020602 Oahu BISH 2009-02-06
38 Parkinsonia aculeata Quarantine Island Preserved_Specimen Judd, C.S. Oahu BISH 1936-01-17
39 Parkinsonia aculeata Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden. Received as plant from D. Lappala, Princeville, Kauai Preserved_Specimen Corolla yellow; flag with orange spotting. Flynn, T.W. 1526 Kauai BISH 1986-02-19
40 Parkinsonia aculeata - HUMAN_OBSERVATION Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) Maui HAPI 11/2/2009
41 Parkinsonia aculeata W Maui, Ukumehame Preserved_Specimen Shrub of dry, distrurbed roadside. Flowers yellow. Stems die back to root. Herbst, D.R. 5404 Maui BISH 1975-07-08
42 Parkinsonia aculeata National Tropical Botanical Garden, McBryde Garden in Lawai Valley; vicinity of Bamboo Bridge area along upper road HUMAN_OBSERVATION Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) Kauai HAPI 11/2/2009
43 Parkinsonia aculeata Honolulu, Kuhio School grounds Preserved_Specimen Two trees 10 ft. tall, 4 in. diameter, thorns on trunk and on branches; pods like pigeon pea, with 1 (?) dark-brown(?) seed. Yee, M. Oahu BISH 1947-05-02
44 Parkinsonia aculeata East Maui, E of Kahului, at the junction of Hana Highway and Hansen Road. Also found at Papalaua along the road to Lahaina Preserved_Specimen 4 m tall thorny shrub, profusely flowering and setting seed. Hobdy, R.W. 1761 Maui BISH 1983-05-24
45 Parkinsonia aculeata W Maui, Ukumehame Preserved_Specimen Shrub of dry, distrurbed roadside. Flowers yellow. Stems die back to root. Herbst, D.R. 5404 Maui BISH 1975-07-08
46 Parkinsonia aculeata Growing in a private yard in Damon Tract Preserved_Specimen A Small thorny tree with gray trunk. Flowers yellow. Pearsall, S. Oahu BISH 1957-09-05
47 Parkinsonia aculeata Lihue Preserved_Specimen Flowers with 4 yellow petals and 1 bright brick-red petal; + 1 legume. Flowers unplesant-smelling. Davis, C. Kauai BISH 1961-08-16
48 Parkinsonia aculeata Lihue Preserved_Specimen Flowers with 4 yellow petals and 1 bright brick-red petal; + 1 legume. Davis, C. Kauai BISH 1961-12-16
49 Parkinsonia aculeata W Maui Preserved_Specimen Roadside weedy-looking shrub. Jones, D. Maui BISH 1964-08-24
50 Parkinsonia aculeata - HUMAN_OBSERVATION Action Method: Ground; Method: Mapping Grade; Correction: Uncorrected; Comment: GPS Maui Invasive Species Committee Hawaii HAPI 2/28/2006
51 Parkinsonia aculeata Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen A tree 4 m tall and 5 m across with long arching branches. In full sun. Petals creamy yellow to lemon yellow except the lowermost which open canary yellow and ages to orange red. Flower odorless (afternoon). Lau, J. 2493 Oahu BISH 1986-06-02
52 Parkinsonia aculeata Honolulu Harbor Preserved_Specimen Rock, J.F.C. 12955 Oahu BISH
53 Parkinsonia aculeata Makiki Valley, Maunalaha Trail, 200m S of intersection with Makiki Valley Trail HUMAN_OBSERVATION Action Method: Ground; Method: Unknown; Correction: N/A; Comment: Maui Invasive Species Committee Oahu HAPI 9/14/2001
54 Parkinsonia aculeata Lower Waianae Valley, mauka of Waianae Intermediate School (UTM 584008, 2372812) Dry Lowland field, mostly Cenchrus ciliaris, with Panicum maximum, Prosopis pallida, occasional Sida fallax. Preserved_Specimen About 6 m tall by 6 m across shrub with caesalpinioid flowers, 5 petals clawed at base, upper petal w/ red spotting or entirely red. No fruits noted. Lau, A. 2009020602 Oahu BISH 2009-02-06
55 Parkinsonia aculeata Quarantine Island Preserved_Specimen Judd, C.S. Oahu BISH 1936-01-17
56 Parkinsonia aculeata Pacific Tropical Botanical Garden. Received as plant from D. Lappala, Princeville, Kauai Preserved_Specimen Corolla yellow; flag with orange spotting. Flynn, T.W. 1526 Kauai BISH 1986-02-19
57 Parkinsonia aculeata - HUMAN_OBSERVATION Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) Maui HAPI 11/2/2009
58 Parkinsonia aculeata W Maui, Ukumehame Preserved_Specimen Shrub of dry, distrurbed roadside. Flowers yellow. Stems die back to root. Herbst, D.R. 5404 Maui BISH 1975-07-08
59 Parkinsonia aculeata National Tropical Botanical Garden, McBryde Garden in Lawai Valley; vicinity of Bamboo Bridge area along upper road HUMAN_OBSERVATION Big Island Invasive Species Committee (BIISC) Kauai HAPI 11/2/2009
60 Parkinsonia aculeata Honolulu, Kuhio School grounds Preserved_Specimen Two trees 10 ft. tall, 4 in. diameter, thorns on trunk and on branches; pods like pigeon pea, with 1 (?) dark-brown(?) seed. Yee, M. Oahu BISH 1947-05-02
61 Parkinsonia aculeata East Maui, E of Kahului, at the junction of Hana Highway and Hansen Road. Also found at Papalaua along the road to Lahaina Preserved_Specimen 4 m tall thorny shrub, profusely flowering and setting seed. Hobdy, R.W. 1761 Maui BISH 1983-05-24
62 Parkinsonia aculeata W Maui, Ukumehame Preserved_Specimen Shrub of dry, distrurbed roadside. Flowers yellow. Stems die back to root. Herbst, D.R. 5404 Maui BISH 1975-07-08
63 Parkinsonia aculeata Growing in a private yard in Damon Tract Preserved_Specimen A Small thorny tree with gray trunk. Flowers yellow. Pearsall, S. Oahu BISH 1957-09-05
64 Parkinsonia aculeata Lihue Preserved_Specimen Flowers with 4 yellow petals and 1 bright brick-red petal; + 1 legume. Flowers unplesant-smelling. Davis, C. Kauai BISH 1961-08-16
65 Parkinsonia aculeata Lihue Preserved_Specimen Flowers with 4 yellow petals and 1 bright brick-red petal; + 1 legume. Davis, C. Kauai BISH 1961-12-16
66 Parkinsonia aculeata W Maui Preserved_Specimen Roadside weedy-looking shrub. Jones, D. Maui BISH 1964-08-24
67 Parkinsonia aculeata - HUMAN_OBSERVATION Action Method: Ground; Method: Mapping Grade; Correction: Uncorrected; Comment: GPS Maui Invasive Species Committee Hawaii HAPI 2/28/2006
68 Parkinsonia aculeata Waimea Arboretum Preserved_Specimen A tree 4 m tall and 5 m across with long arching branches. In full sun. Petals creamy yellow to lemon yellow except the lowermost which open canary yellow and ages to orange red. Flower odorless (afternoon). Lau, J. 2493 Oahu BISH 1986-06-02
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