• Sunlight illuminates the top of historic Mission San José de Tumacácori church.

    Tumacácori

    National Historical Park Arizona

Velvet Mesquite

Velvet mesquite, Prosopis velutina

The name "Velvet mesquite" refers to the fine hairs found at the base of leaves and at the tips of small branches and new growth.

 
Velvet mesquite tree on Tumacácori Mission grounds
Velvet mesquite tree on Tumacácori Mission grounds
Photo by Anita Badertscher
 
Velvet mesquite leaf
Velvet mesquite leaf
Photo by Steve Baskauf
 
Velvet mesquite flowers
Velvet mesquite flowers
photo courtesy of Tarleton University
 
Velvet mesquite pods
Mesquite bean pods
Photo courtesy of Tarleton University

Did You Know?

Anza Expedition camp

Captain Juan Bautista de Anza of Tubac led over 300 people from here to the San Francisco Bay in 1775-76 to establish a Spanish colony and presidio there.