Palo Verde (paw – low – verdee)
The palo verde is a very strange looking shrub or small tree which grows in the Sonoran Desert of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It has adapted in unique ways to survive the killing heat of the desert sun. Palo verde, or "green wood" in Spanish, has a thin, almost waxy looking green bark studded with large of thorns. The smooth greenish trunk and branches have for a large part taken over the photosynthesis. The green bark contains chlorophyll, which gives it the ability to carry on photosynthesis when the tree has shed its leave during dry, hot periods. This way the tree doesn't have to shut down completely and can still store up energy in its roots. Palo verde can get to be 10-20 feet tall, but grow very slowly and are considered climax species in the Sonoran Desert.