Parkinsonia aculeata

This is a small, thorny tree about 3-7 m tall, with green bark, a parasol-shaped crown and hanging foliage. New twigs are flexible, pendulous and grow in a zigzag form. The leaves are alternate, compound, and twice pinnate, although they do not seem to be. In fact, the leaf comprises a short principal rachis that has become a spine, from which arise 2-4 pinnae, or sometimes more, that are 20-30 cm in length, and which have numerous small leaflets. These are linear or narrowly obovate, greyish green in colour, with an entire margin, and spatially separated. In the Canary Islands it is considered to be an evergreen tree, although the small leaflets drop very frequently to the ground, giving it a reputation for being a ‘dirty tree’. It has very striking blooms, with hanging clusters comprising numerous, fragrant, bright yellow flowers spotted with purple or reddish marks. The narrow, elongated fruit are legumes (a little more than 10 cm long) that pinch in between the seeds. Most of these pods contain only one or two seeds, although they can have as many as 8. The seeds are elongated and very hard. They are shiny green with brown or purple mottling and are edible, with a pleasant flavour.