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Palo verde was designated the official state tree of Arizona in 1954. "Palo verde" is Spanish for "green stick." Blooming in the spring (beginning in late March and continuing until May), palo verde are beautiful trees found in the desert and the foothills of Arizona that add vibrant color to the desert. Palo Verde seeds were a food source for the Pima and Papago Indians of Arizona (the seeds were dried and ground in mortars to make a flour used for mush or cakes).
Native to the Sonoran Desert, palo verde (Cercidium floridum) is a relatively small tree that can reach a height of approximately 32 feet and a trunk diameter of 1.5 - 2 feet. This tree has a deep root system which allows it to tap into the ground water and survive periods of extended drought and withstand severe flash floods (which occur often in desert washes).
Palo Verde is drought deciduous (sheds its leaves during extended dry spells) at which time the tree relies on its green stems and branches for photosynthesis. The leaves of the Palo Verde tree are so small that even during the short period of the year when they are present (mid July to late November) it relies on the green branches and stems to help with photosynthesis.
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