Plant ID

[Siwash]

Wish I would have taken a more detailed pic, but see attached for the 2-4' high scrub plant that is found thick intermixed with Manzanita south of the Mogollon Rim. It has light green leaves that are about 1x.5" with multiple sharp points. Noticed it most prominent on mesas and on ridge slopes, probably 5,500-6,500' in elevation.

 

Anyone know what it's called?

[CouesPursuit]

It has light green leaves that are about 1x.5" with multiple sharp points

 

If multiple sharp points is equivalent to 2 thorns coming out together from the stem, you might be looking at Mimosa aculeaticarpa biuncifera or Wait-a-minute Bush. If there is one thorn at a time it's likely a species from the genus Acacia sp.

 

Similar species are illustrated in the link below.

http://www.arizonensis.org/sonoran/fieldguide/plantae/mimosoideae.html

[Siwash]

Thanks, looked at both of those and believe it is something else, a few of the shrubs did have dried fruit that almost resembled blueberries.

[CouesPursuit]

Without a detailed photo it's tough but 2 more families come to mind with thorns in manzanita habitat, check out the

Rhamnaceae

http://www.arizonensis.org/sonoran/fieldguide/plantae/rhamnaceae.html

and Ulmaceae

http://www.arizonensis.org/sonoran/fieldguide/plantae/ulmaceae.html

species. Congrats on the bull!

[Siwash]

This picture makes it look nice and friendly, and it isn't, but I think you got it: http://www.nazflora.org/Ceanothus_greggii.htm

 

Thanks, and I actually took a spike, my friend took the raghorn and I got to help him pack it out, antlers down, because it was so thick with cedars, manzy and everything else that I never would have made with them up, at least not without getting hung up every 5 feet.

[CouesPursuit]

Haha well then congrats on 2 bulls!

 

The ceonothus is pretty friendly when it isn't bone dry, don't usually think of it as a thorny species but it can be.

[Hunterjohnny]

http://www.arizonensis.org/sonoran/fieldguide/plantae/quercus_turb.html

[Siwash]

http://www.arizonensis.org/sonoran/fieldguide/plantae/quercus_turb.html

 

That's actually it, thank you. Feel like a goofball as I have been in live oak before.

[Hunterjohnny]

I was just up there and grabbed a handful when I slipped so it was fresh in my mind.

[CouesPursuit]

I have no problem being wrong but the "multiple sharp points" threw me off thinking of actual thorns! Good call Hunterjohnny! Very common and from the photo it sure fits the bill. Should have caught the leaf description.

[IA Born]

Yep. I would have said shrub live oak or barberry based on your description and original pic. Looks like shrub live oak to me.