Prosopis velutina Anza-Borrego.jpg

''Prosopis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. It contains around 45 species of spiny trees and shrubs found in subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Western Asia, and South Asia. They often thrive in arid soil and are resistant to drought, on occasion developing extremely deep root systems. Their wood is usually hard, dense and durable. Their fruits are pods and may contain large amounts of sugar. The generic name means "burdock" in late Latin and originated in the Greek language.

Selected species

* Mesquites ( southern United States, Mexico)
** '' Prosopis glandulosa'' Torr. – honey mesquite; ''Haas'' ( Cmiique Iitom)
** '' Prosopis laevigata'' (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) M.C.Johnst. – smooth mesquite
** ''Prosopis pubescens'' Benth. – screwbean mesquite
** ''Prosopis reptans'' Benth. – tornillo
** '' Prosopis velutina'' Wooton – velvet mesquite
*"Algarrobos", bayahondas etc. ( Neotropics, particularly the Gran Chaco)
** ''Prosopis abbreviata'' Benth. – algarrobillo espinoso
** ''Prosopis affinis'' Spreng. – nandubay, algarrobillo, espinillo, Ibopé-morotí
** ''Prosopis alba'' Griseb. – algarrobo blanco; ''ibopé'' or ''igopé'' ( Guaraní)
** '' Prosopis caldenia'' Burkart – caldén
** ''Prosopis chilensis'' ( Molina) Stuntz – algarrobo Chileno, algarrobo blanco
** '' Prosopis fiebrigii'' Harms
** ''Prosopis flexuosa'' DC. – alpataco, algarrobo negro
** '' Prosopis hassleri'' Harms
** '' Prosopis juliflora'' (Sw.) DC. – bayahonda blanca, bayarone Français; ''kabuli kikar, vilayati babul, vilayati khejra'' or ''vilayati kikar'' ( Hindi); ''trupillo'' or ''turpío'' (Wayuunaiki)
** '' Prosopis kuntzei'' Harms ex Kuntze – itín, barba de tigre, carandá, palo mataco
** '' Prosopis nigra'' (Griseb.) Hieron. – algarrobo negro, algarrobo amarillo, algarrobo dulce, algarrobo morado
** '' Prosopis pallida'' (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Kunth – American carob, ''huarango, kiawe'' ( Hawaiian)
** ''Prosopis rojasiana'' Burkart
** '' Prosopis ruscifolia'' Griseb. – vinal
** ''Prosopis strombulifera'' ( Lam.) Benth. – creeping mesquite, Argentine screwbean
** ''Prosopis tamarugo'' Phil. – tamarugo
*African species
** ''Prosopis africana'' ( Guill. & Perr.) Taub. – ''gele'' ( Malinke, traditional ''djembe'' wood)
*Asian species ( India, mainly Rajasthan, Sri Lanka to the Arabian Peninsula)
** '' Prosopis cineraria'' ( L.) Druce – jand; ''ghaf'' ( Arabic); ''sami'' or ''sumri'' (Gujarati); ''khejri'', ''sangri'' (Rajasthani); ''kandi'' ( Sindhi)
** ''Prosopis farcta'' ( Sol. ex Russell) J.F.Macbr.
** ''Prosopis koelziana'' Burkart ( Iran)
** ''Prosopis spicigera'' ( L.)

Formerly placed here

*''Acacia atramentaria'' Benth. (as ''P. astringens'' Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.)
*''Elephantorrhiza elephantina'' (Burch.) Skeels (as ''P. elephantina'' (Burch.) E.Mey. or ''P. elephantorrhiza'' Spreng.)
*''Prosopidastrum globosum'' (Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) Burkart (as ''P. globosa'' Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.)

Taxonomic reclassification

Genomic research published in 2022 concludes that species grouped under the genus ''Prosopis'' actually represent multiple genera including ''Anonychium'', '' Neltuma'', ''Prosopis'', and ''Strombocarpa''.

Phytochemistry

''Prosopis'' species have been found to contain 5-hydroxytryptamine, apigenin, isorhamnetin-3-diglucoside, l-arabinose, quercetin, tannin, and tryptamine.Medicinal Plants of the Southwest

The tannins present in ''Prosopis'' species are of the pyrogallotannin and pyrocatecollic types. The tannins are mainly found in the bark and wood while their concentration in the pods is low.

Some species, such as '' P. africana'' or '' P. velutina'', produce a gum (mesquite gum).

As an introduced and invasive species

The species '' Prosopis pallida'' was introduced to Hawaii in 1828 and now dominates many of the drier coastal parts of the islands, where it is called the kiawe tree and is a prime source of monofloral honey production.

In Australia, invasive ''Prosopis'' species are causing severe economic and environmental damage. With their thorns and many low branches, ''Prosopis'' shrubs form impenetrable thickets which prevent cattle from accessing watering holes, etc. They also take over pastoral grasslands and suck up scarce water. ''Prosopis'' species cause land erosion due to loss of grassland that are habitats for native plants and animals. ''Prosopis'' thickets also provide shelter for feral animals such as pigs and cats.

For more information on invasiveness of mesquite species, see '' Prosopis glandulosa'' and '' Prosopis juliflora''.

Eradication

Eradicating ''Prosopis'' is difficult because the plant's bud regeneration zone can extend down to below ground level;Mesquite Info
/ref>
/ref> the tree can regenerate from a piece of root left in the soil. Some herbicides are not effective or only partially effective against mesquite. Spray techniques for removal, while effective against short-term regrowth, are expensive, costing more than $70/acre ($170/hectare) in the USA. Removing large trees requires tracked equipment; costs can approach $2,000 per acre. In Australia, several techniques are used to remove ''Prosopis''.

See also

* Invasive species in Australia

References

Notes

General references

*Paciecznik, N. M., Harris P. J. C., & S. J. Smith. 2003
Identifying Tropical Prosopis Species: A Field Guide
HDRA, Coventry, UK. .

(FAO Document Repository)

(website of the Vascular Plant Herbarium of the University of Arizona in Tucson)
Plant Walk 2 UofA

External links

*
*
U.S. Federal Noxious Weed List (USDA)The Prosopis Website (Has a nice range map)

{{Taxonbar, from=Q133422

Forages
Medicinal plants
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Fabaceae genera