Prosopis glandulosa (Mesquite)

Photographs

My photos:

This photo was taken in February at Anza Borrego Visitor's Center, as was the photo below.

More photos:

Virginia Tech shows the fruit and other close ups.

click photo to enlarge

Plant Information

Fabaceae

In the garden:

Mesquite is a low tree or large shrub, with several trunks and crooked, arching branches, armed with paired spines. It will reach from 9 to 30 feet high and over 40 feet wide. It’s bright green, linear leaves are bipinnate, with up to 20 leaflets; these leaves are deciduous. It’s greenish to yellow flowers are not showy and appear between April and June. It serves well as a shade tree in desert areas; it is also a good windbreak or screen. It grows best in a deep soil where it’s taproot will go down great distances for water. It will survive in a shallow rocky soil, but it will be shrubby. It tolerates drought, alkaline soils, or irrigated lawns.

In the wild:

As a member of the Fabaceae (the Pea Family), it has fruit in the form of straight or curved legumes (Prosopis pubescens has fruit which is tightly coiled). It is common in washes and other low places in the desert, below 3000 feet. This tree was once called Prosopis juliflora, which is found south of the U. S. All mesquites have a strong tendency for apical dominance and a well-developed crown. Undisturbed trees therefore develop into single-stemmed trees. If the aboveground growth is damaged or removed, such as by freezing weather, drought, fire, trampling, browsing, cutting, or herbicide treatment, dormant buds located on the underground stem initiate new growth, resulting in the many-stemmed growth form.

Ethnobotany:

This fruit is eaten by wildlife and in the past, by natives of the area. It tastes similar to carob. Before the introduction of livestock by European settlers, the geographic ranges of North American mesquites were probably more distinct. Since livestock effectively disperse the seeds, mesquites have increased their abundance across the Southwest since settlement times, and many species' ranges have changed. The wood and leaves are used for their scent when burned, in cooking and as an air freshener.

Field Trips
Anza Borrego Caspers Holy Jim Canyon Idyllwild
Joshua Tree Mt Palomar Rancho Santa Ana Torrey Pines

Index
Home