tesota

The Sonoran coastal plain area houses the palo fierro or ironwood (Olneya tesota) which is the oldest desert tree.

Sonoran desert 2009

Lower elevation areas are dominated by dense communities of creosote and white bursage, but on slopes and higher portions of bajadas, subtrees such as palo verde (Cercidium floridum, C. microphyllum) and ironwood (Olneya tesota), saguaros (Carnegiea gigantia), and other tall cacti are abundant.

Sonoran desert 2009

It has also been demonstrated that ironwood (Olneya tesota) and palo verde (Cercidium floridum) nursing relationships promote diversification and increase richness of other plants in arid ecosystems.

Sonoran desert 2009

Where the dunes allow for slight inclination of the slope, species of mesquite (Prosopis), Cercidium, palo fierro (Olneya tesota), Candalia, Lycium, choya (Opuntia), Fouquieria, jécota (Hymenoclea) and Acacia are favored.

Sonoran desert 2009

Species that serve to separate the Mojave from the Sonoran desert include such widespread Sonoran species as ironwood (Olneya tesota), blue Palo Verde (Cercidium florium), and chuparosa (Justica californica).

Mojave desert 2008

I find with a little googling that it also refers to a kind of tamarisk tree in the American southwest, Olneya tesota, and to the Indian rose chestnut, Mesua sp.

languagehat.com: HACKMATACK. 2005

Unless supplemental irrigation is available in arid regions, O. tesota grows slowly, prolonging the time it tales for the tree to reach flowering size.

Chapter 29 1990

Along its range, O. tesota is a dominant component of many plant communities.

Chapter 29 1990

Nodulation and nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) in desert ironwood (Olneya tesota).

Chapter 29 1990

Olneya tesota tolerates some freezing but generally sustains stem damage below - 6° C.

Chapter 29 1990