Parkinsonia praecox

Parkinsonia praecox is known as palo brea. It belongs to Fabaceae, the pea family. It grows as a shrub or small tree. Its native range runs from Mexico to Guatemala. It also spans tropical South America to Argentina. It grows in subtropical areas and low-elevation deciduous forests. These forests shed their leaves. In Ecuador, it grows from sea level to 4,920 feet [1,500 metres].

Plants tend to reach 6.6–13 feet [2–4 metres] tall. Some reach 30 feet [9 metres] in northeastern Sonora's forests. The growing site shapes the crown. In open sites, it spreads with a round or flat top. In sheltered sites, plants grow more upright with fewer branches. These forms give the same species quite different shapes. The source calls it evergreen, but its leaves are short-lived. Most leaves grow in the rainy season, not year-round.

Green stems do much of the work of photosynthesis. This is how plants use light to make food. The stems stay bright green even near the ground. They thus play a key role when few leaves remain. The bark bears a wax coat with local uses. Photo captions note flowers and ripe seedpods on the plant. They also note thorns on the stems that bear pods. The supplied text gives no flower colour or bloom season.

The plant prefers full sun and soil that is slightly alkaline. It can withstand brief frosts now and then, down to about 23°F [-5°C]. This does not show how it copes with long cold spells. Many pea-family plants work with soil bacteria to fix nitrogen. This plant is said to lack that bond. It thus does not fix nitrogen from the air. The source lists seed as a way to grow new plants. It gives no watering plan or facts on pests and diseases.

People gather stem gum from wild plants for local use. The greenish gum lets some light through. It contains about 80 percent arabin. It dissolves fully in water and can replace gum arabic. Local users mix it with alkali to make soap. They scrape wax from the bark, then melt it for glue. This glue joins leather goods and furniture parts. That use gives palo brea its name. The wood is hard and fairly heavy, but brittle. It is easy to work and takes a smooth finish. Yet it has little value for trade. The source lists no known food uses, medicinal uses, or hazards. No reported hazards does not mean it is safe for people or pets.