Texas Wildbuds
Vachellia vernicosa
(Viscid Acacia)
Vachellia vernicosa, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster Co. 6562
Vachellia vernicosa, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster Co. 6547
Vachellia vernicosa, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster Co. 6565
Vachellia vernicosa, Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster Co. 6536
Vachellia vernicosa, Sierra de Chino, River Road West, Big Bend National Park 2422
Vachellia vernicosa, Sierra de Chino, River Road West, Big Bend National Park 2424
| Scientific Name | Vachellia vernicosa (Acacia neovernicosa) | USDA PLANTS Symbol | VAVE |
| Common Name | Viscid Acacia | ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. | 819942 |
| Family | Fabaceae (Pea) | SEINet Reference |
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| Description | Habitat: Desert scrub environment; stream beds, canyons, mesas and rocky calcareous hills. Plant: Woody bush 3 to 6 feet high with several main branches from base; newer stems armed with pairs of whitish spines at leaf nodes; new stems are reddish; entire plant sticky from glandular secretions. Leaves: Bi-pinnate compound leaves, 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 inches long overall with 1 or 2 pairs of pinnae, each with 7 to 9 pairs of small (3/16-inch long or less) oblong or linear leaflets per pinnae with glandular surfaces; deciduous. Inflorescence: Fragrant, bright yellow flowers in ball-shaped heads about 3/8 inch in diameter on peduncles about 1-1/4 inch long or less. Bloom Period: April to July, or later following rains in drought years. References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston and "Acacias in the New Mexico Desert" by Ishaque, Beck and Pieper. Note: Closely resembles V. constricta but this species has fewer pinnae per leaf (1 or 2 pairs, rarely 3). |
BONAP Distribution Map Map Color Key |
Texas Status: Native |
Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County
© Tom Lebsack 2025