Palo verde

Burro Creek, Arizona, USA. A characteristic tree/shrub of the Sonoran Desert, occurring commonly in the same assemblage as saguaro and ocotillo. Its leaves are vestigal to save water, most photosynthesis occurring in the green stems. It's commonly planted as an ornamental around the southwest, in areas outside is natural range (e.g., Las Vegas, NV). The name means "green stick" in Spanish--it's appropriate!