Olneya sp.
Ironwood, Ironwood
(c) Matt Lavin, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · licence
Family: Fabaceae · Type: Annual · Native
Conservation status: Delisted
Olneya sp. (Ironwood) is a native California annual in the Fabaceae family.
Conservation status
Delisted
How to tell it apart
vs Senegalia: Olneya leaves end in paired leaflets; acacia leaves have many more tiny leaflet pairs and yellow ball flowers.; vs Neltuma: Olneya has purple-pink flowers and silver foliage; mesquite has yellow-green flowers and bright green leaves.; vs Psorodendron: Olneya has compound leaves; smoketree is nearly leafless with smoky purple flower clusters.; vs Parkinsonia: Olneya has short compound leaves; palo verde has long drooping compound leaves on green bark.; vs Alhagi: Olneya is a tree; camelthorn is a spiny low shrub with small pink flowers along thorny stems.
Frequently asked questions
Is Olneya sp. native to California?
Yes. Olneya sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Olneya sp. belong to?
Olneya sp. is in the Fabaceae family, genus Olneya.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.