The Spanish meaning for Palo Verde is green stick. The reasoning behind the name is the bark contains chlorophyll, to continue photosynthesis, making it a green appearance. On the tree, there are little leaves that are in 4-10 pairs and the flower is bright yellow when it blossoms in spring. The flowers are followed by seed pods. It is a primary nursery plant for the saguaro cactus. The natives have used their seeds for food, such as flour and seeds. The tree can be found in the desert in dry riparian areas and on rocky hillsides. The tree can be found in elevations up to 4,000 feet.
