Fabaceae

Caesalpinia decapetala

Common Names: Mysore thorn

Plant Form: Large evergreen shrub or climber. Size: 2-4 m tall, climbing up to 20 m. Stem: Rough at base, turning smoother and cream-green above, with hooked thorns and densely covered in fine golden hairs. Leaves: Consisting of 3-15 opposite pairs of leaflets, each with 3-12 opposite pairs of leaflets, dark green above, paler underneath. Flowers: Yellow or pale yellow with 5 nearly circular petals, in large upright clusters at the tips of branches. Fruit and Seeds: Flattened oblong woody pods 6-10 cm long with small beak at ends, which split open to release 4-9 brown or black globular seeds. Habitat: Roadsides, creek banks, forests, urban woodlands. Distinguishing Features: Combination of thorns and yellow flowers with circular petals. Impacts: Block water and pasture access, smothers and outcompetes native vegetation, spines can injure stock or people.

Flowers are yellow

Rambles over other vegetation

Spines and hooks on stems and mid-ribs

Seed pods