A Festive Appearance

From a distance, Guayacan (pronounced "why-a-con") (Guaiacum angustifolium) appears as if it might be an evergreen in the Cupressaceae (Cypress) Family such as a Juniper or Cedar. Upon closer inspection, it becomes evident this shrub has pinnately* compound leaves with thick, leathery, dark green, small leaflets. Guayacan is in the Zygophyllaceae (Creosote-Bush) Family.

In late Fall and persisting into Winter, there are bright, scarlet-red seeds, giving the shrub a festive appearance:

I have heard numerous stories in the South Texas oral tradition about the Guayacan being used as a Christmas tree during the Great Depression of the 1930s by families that could not afford to purchase a traditional Christmas tree. The root bark makes an excellent soap for washing woolen products, so another common name for the shrub is Soapbush.

This set of photographs was taken along the El Camino Trail at the Medina River Natural Area on Tuesday, November 19, 2013.

* Correction, Saturday, November 23, 2013, 10:20 AM: In the original version of this post I had inadvertently typed "palmate" instead of "pinnate." It's quite cold outside. I think I have visions of palm trees on my mind.