Olneya tesota is a
perennial flowering
tree of the
Fabaceae family, legumes (peas, beans, etc.), which is commonly known as
ironwood or
desert ironwood. It is the only species in the
monotypic genus Olneya. This tree is part of the western
Sonoran Desert complex in the
Southwestern United States, which includes flora such as
palo verde,
saguaro,
ocotillo,
brittlebush,
creosote bush, and
mesquite.