
22 Nov Mysore thorn
Caesalpinia decapetala
Family: Fabaceae
Origin: India
Habit: A perennial sprawling shrub. Straight or hooked thorns on the stems aid it to climb to re 15 m when supported by other vegetation which it will smother, forming
impenetrable thickets
Leaves: bipinnate to 300mm long, 8mm wide, divided into many feathery oval grey-green leaflets (dark green above and pale beneath), covered with fine hairs. There are small prickles on the rachis
Flowers: Yellow pea-like flowers on stems have prickles at base, racemes that protrude up to 50 cm above the main plant in Winter and Spring
Fruit: Dark brown seedpods
Roots: Both tap and lateral roots
Dispersal: Seeds dispersed by rodents, birds, water, machinery
Control: Dig out smaller plants and for slightly larger cut/paint method. Registered herbicide best applied when actively growing before flowering. A wetting agent is recommended.
- Forest & Kim Starr
- Forest & Kim Starr