Caesalpinia sessilifolia S. Watson

Caesalpinia sessilifolia S. Wats. Proc. Am Acad. 21:450. 1886.
Poinciana sessiliflora Rose. Conlr. U. S. Nat. Herb. 13; 303. 1911.
A prickly, glabrous shrub, 1-1.5 m. high; branches brown or reddish brown, somewhat glaucous. Leaves sessile or nearly so with a single pair of pinnae; leaflets 2 or 3 pairs, orbicular to elliptic, 7-12 mm. long, rounded or retuse at apex; raceme terminal, more or less prickly, 5-10 cm. long; pedicels 5-8 mm. long, jointed beneath the flower; larger sepal 8-10 mm. long, the petals about as long ; stamens a little longer than the petals, hairy below ; legume oblong to elliptic, 2-2.5 cm. long, 10-12 mm. wide, acute or acuminate, glabrous.
Type locality: Bolson de Mapimi, Coahuila. Distribution; Coahuila; Durango.