Prosopis glandulosa
| Prosopis glandulosa | |
|---|---|
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| Foliage with seedpods | |
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Genus: | Prosopis |
| Species: | P. glandulosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Prosopis glandulosa Torr. |
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| Varieties | |
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Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa |
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Prosopis glandulosa, commonly known as honey mesquite, is a species of small to medium-sized flowering tree in the legume family, Fabaceae. It is native to the Southwestern United States and Mexico, growing as far north as southern Kansas and as far east as the eastern fifth of Texas, where average annual rainfall is in excess of 40 inches (100 cm).[1] It can be part of the Mesquite Bosque plant association community.
It has been introduced to at least a half-dozen other countries. The IUCN considers it as one of the world's 100 worst invasive species outside its native habitat range.[2]
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[edit] Description
Honey mesquite has rounded big and floppy, drooping branches with feathery foliage and straight, paired spines on twigs. This tree normally reaches 20–30 ft (6.1–9.1 m), but can grow as tall as 50 ft (15 m). It is considered to have a medium growth rate. Honey mesquite coppices due to latent buds underground, making permanent removal difficult. A single-trunked tree that is cut down will soon be replaced by a multi-trunked version.[3]
It flowers from March to November, with pale, yellow, elongated spikes and bears straight, yellow seedpods. The seeds are eaten by a variety of animals, such as scaled quail. Other animals, including deer, collared peccaries, and jackrabbits, feed on both pods and vegetation.[4]
[edit] Varieties
- Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa (syn. Prosopis chilensis var. glandulosa (Torr.) Standl., Prosopis juliflora var. glandulosa (Torr.) Cockerell)[5]
- Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana (L.D.Benson) M.C.Johnst. (syn. Prosopis juliflora var. torreyana L.D.Benson)[6]
[edit] Uses
This species of mesquite, known as haas (pronounced [ʔaːs]) by the Seri people of northwestern Mexico, was very important for food and nonfood uses. The Seris had specific names for various stages of the growth of the mesquite pod.[7] Historically, it was a very important wild food plant because it fruits even during drought years.[8]
[edit] See also
[edit] References
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Prosopis glandulosa |
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Wikispecies has information related to: Prosopis glandulosa |
- ^ a b "Taxon: Prosopis glandulosa Torr.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1997-05-22. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?310684. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ "Prosopis glandulosa (tree)". Global Invasive Species Database. Invasive Species Specialist Group. http://www.issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=137&fr=1&sts=. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
- ^ Simpson, Benny J. (1988). A Field Guide to Texas Trees. Texas Monthly Press. pp. 244–245. ISBN 0877191131.
- ^ "Prosopis glandulosa Torr." (PDF). International Institute of Tropical Forestry. United States Forest Service. http://www.fs.fed.us/global/iitf/pdf/shrubs/Prosopis%20glandulosa%20.pdf. Retrieved 2009-06-29.
- ^ "Taxon: Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1997-05-22. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?29756. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ "Taxon: Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana (L. D. Benson) M. C. Johnst.". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 1997-05-22. http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/taxon.pl?100104. Retrieved 2010-01-01.
- ^ Felger, Richard; Mary B. Moser. (1985). People of the desert and sea: ethnobotany of the Seri Indians. Tucson: University of Arizona Press.
- ^ "Species: Prosopis glandulosa". Fire Effects Information System. United States Forest Service. http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/progla/all.html. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
[edit] External links
- "Prosopis glandulosa Torr. Honey mesquite". Native Plant Database. Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=prgl2.
- NatureServe Apparently Secure species
- Prosopis
- Plants described in 1827
- North American desert flora
- Flora of the U.S. Rio Grande Valleys
- Flora of the Sonoran Deserts
- Flora of the Chihuahuan Desert
- Trees of Northern Mexico
- Trees of the Southwestern United States
- Flora of Southwestern Texas
- Trees of Arizona
- Trees of Chihuahua
- Trees of New Mexico
- Trees of Sonora
- Trees of Texas
- Invasive plant species
- Invasive plant species in Australia
- Flora naturalised in Australia
- Forages
- Edible legumes
