Identification
Growth form: Can be in the form of a shrub or tree, reaching heights of up to 40-50, more commonly 20-30 feet as a tree. (2,7)
Roots:
Stem: Branches are erect and form a round crown; twigs are brittle yellowish brown and pubescent. (5,2)
Leaves: Light green with some yellow, smooth on top part of leaf and hairy on underside. Pinnately compound, alternate, 7-19 lance shaped unequal sided leaflets, terminal leaflet smaller and toothless, Leaflets about 4 inches long. (2, 10).
Inflorescence/flowers: White flowers about ¼ inch wide in large branched terminal pyramidal cluster about 6-10 inches long. (2)
Fruit: Fruits are found in clusters, translucent, with a yellowish berry that can be smooth or wrinkled about ½ inch in diameter. (3)
Similar species: None

Ecology
Life history: Perennial tree/shrub
Native/Introduced: Native
Photosynthetic pathway:
Phenology: Growing season is spring and summer, flowers bloom in early summer. (10, 3)
Distribution: Grows near streams, canyon sides, and desert grasslands. Found in elevations of 2400-6000 feet. Found from Arizona up to Colorado through Missouri down to Florida.

Uses
Adult butterflies time their emergence with the blossoming of the soapberry flowers which is their main source of nectar. Natives in Africa toss the crushed soapberries into streams to poison fish without altering their taste. In Mexico natives still use the soap made from the berries to wash clothes and hair. The soap also was used to varnish floors. As soap it was also used to relieve itching and prevent the spread of tineas and scalp seborrhea. (6, 2, 13)

References
1. Barnyard, E.S., Yates, S.F. 1998. North American Wildlife, Wildflowers. The Readers Digest Association, Inc.

2. Elmore, F.H. 1976. Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Uplands. Southwest Parks and Monuments Association. Tucson, AZ

3. Roach, A.W. 1982. Outdoor Plants of the Southwest. Taylor Publishing Company.

4. Blackwell, W.H. 1990. Poisonous and Medicinal Plants. Prentice Hall Englewood Cliffs.

5. Critteden, M. 1977. Trees of the West. Celestial Arts

6. Bowers, J.E. 1993. Shrubs and Trees of the Southwest Deserts Southwest Parks and Monuments Association Tucson, AZ

7. USDA Natural Resource Conservation Plants Profile
http://www.plants.usda.gov

8. Ruyle, G., Young, D. 1997. Arizona Range Grasses. Cooperative Extension College of agriculture the University of A.Z. Tucson, AZ.

9. Barkworth, M., Capels, K. 2003. Flora of N. America 2:5. New York Oxford. Oxford university press.

10. Epple, A. 1995. Field Guide to the Plants of AZ. Lew Ann publishing company mesa AZ.

11. Wiggins, I. 1964. Vegetation and Flora of the Sonoran Desert Volume 1. Stanford University press.

12. Millspaugh. 1974. American Medicinal Plants. Dover Publications, New York, N.Y.

13. Hill, D.G. 2002. Names of Plants 3rd Edition. Cambridge University Press.