Verde Canyon Trip #7
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Verde River Valley Trip #7
Red Rock State Park

Western soapberry (Sapindus saponaria) at Red Rock State Park.

Soapberry Family (Sapindaceae)

A soapberry seed necklace (Sapindus saponaria) from the Hawaiian Islands. This widespread species of tree occurs in the southwestern United States, Mexico and South America, west across the Pacific Basin on a number of islands to New Caledonia. On the island of Hawaii it grows in mesic forests on Hualalai, Mauna Loa and Kilauea. It also occurs in Africa where the seeds are used in the board game called mancala. On the Palomar College campus it grows near the Child Development Center, and soon will be planted in the Arboretum. The foaming action of soapberries is caused by saponins present in the leathery fruit wall (pericarp). Native soap lilies (Chlorogalum pomeridianum) in the Arboretum contain similar saponins in their bulbs that foam in water.

  See Article About Soap Lilies & Soapberries  

Cicada killer wasp (genus Sphecius) on soapberry flowers.

  Wayne's Word Page On Wasps (Order Hymenoptera)  

Net-winged beetle (family Lycidae) on soapberry.
Probably Lycus fernandezi or L. arizonensis.

Cattail marsh (Typha latifolia).

Pinyon-juniper woodland (Pinus edulis and Juniperus osteosperma).
The area also includes alligator or checkerbark juniper (J. deppeana).

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