Kpdhage at 09:13, 20 September 2009

2009-09-20T09:13:12Z

Envoy at 04:30, 27 April 2007

2007-04-27T04:30:13Z

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{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Prosopis''
| image = Prosopis_caldenia.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Prosopis caldenia'', a species of central [[Argentina]].
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Fabales]]
| familia = [[Fabaceae]]
| subfamilia = [[Mimosoideae]]
| tribus = [[Mimoseae]]
| genus = '''''Prosopis'''''
| genus_authority = [[Carolus Linnaeus|L.]]
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
See text.
}}

'''''Prosopis''''' is a [[genus]] of about 45 species of [[legume|leguminous]] [[spine (biology)|spiny]] [[tree]]s and [[shrub]]s found in subtropical and tropical regions of the [[Americas]], [[Africa]] and southwest [[Asia]]. They often thrive in arid soil and are resistant to [[drought]]s, on occasion developing extremely deep [[root]] systems. Their [[wood]] is usually hard, dense and durable. Their fruits are [[legume|pod]]s and may contain large amounts of [[sugar]].

Some of the species in this genus are:
*[[Mesquite]] species (southern [[United States]], [[Mexico]]):
** ''[[Prosopis glandulosa]]'' (Honey Mesquite)
** ''[[Prosopis pallida]]''
** ''[[Prosopis pubescens]]'' (Screwbean Mesquite)
** ''[[Prosopis reptans]]'' (Tornillo)
** ''[[Prosopis strombulifera]]'' (Creeping Mesquite)
** ''[[Prosopis velutina]]'' (Velvet Mesquite)
*[[South America]]n species (algarrobos of the [[Gran Chaco]] and others):
** ''[[Prosopis affinis]]'' (Ñandubay)
** ''[[Prosopis alba]]'' (Algarrobo blanco)
*** ''Prosopis alba'' var. ''panta'' (Algarrobo panta)
** ''[[Prosopis caldenia]]'' (Caldén)
** ''[[Prosopis chilensis]]'' (Algarrobo chileno)
** ''[[Prosopis fiebrigii]]''
** ''[[Prosopis flexuosa]]''
** ''[[Prosopis hassleri]]''
** ''[[Prosopis juliflora]]''
** ''[[Prosopis nigra]]'' (Algarrobo negro)
** ''[[Prosopis rojasiana]]''
** ''[[Prosopis ruscifolia]]'' (Vinal)
*[[Africa]]n species
** ''[[Prosopis africana]]''
*[[Asia]]n species ([[India]] (mainly [[Rajasthan]]), [[Syria]], [[Iraq]]):
** ''[[Prosopis cineraria]]'' (Khejri, Jand, Sangri, Kandi)

==References==
*Paciecznik, N. M., Harris P. J. C., & S. J. Smith. 2003. [http://www.frp.uk.com/dissemination_documents/R7295_-_prosopis_field_guide_-_July_03.pdf Identifying Tropical Prosopis Species: A Field Guide]. HDRA, Coventry, UK. ISBN 0-905343-34-4.
*[http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=/DOCREP/006/Q2580E/Q2580E07.htm Handbook on taxonomy of Prosopis in Mexico, Peru and Chile] (FAO Document Repository)
*[http://eebweb.arizona.edu/herb/PLWALK/pw1.html Plant Walk I: Old Main] (website of the Vascular Plant Herbarium of the University of Arizona in Tucson)
*[http://arboretum.arizona.edu/mainplants.html Plant Walk 1 UofA]
*[http://cals-cf.calsnet.arizona.edu/arboretum/plantwalk/chart.cfm Plant Walk 2 UofA]

==See also==
* [[Arabian Desert and East Sahero-Arabian xeric shrublands]]
* [[Northwestern thorn scrub forests]]
* [[Invasive species in Australia]]

[[Category:Mimosoideae]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:13, 20 September 2009
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		+	{{Inc\|
		+	Prosopis (Greek, but the meaning is obscure). Leguminosae. Tender trees and shrubs, including the mesquit and the screw bean, two forage plants of considerable value in the arid regions of southern California and the Southwest.
		+	Stems with or without spines, the spines axillary, solitary or in pairs or only the stipules spinescent: lvs. bipinnate, 1 or 2 pairs of pinnae; lfts. usually numerous, small, entire: fls. small, greenish, in cylindrical or globose axillary spikes: pods linear, coriaceous and indehiscent. — About 25 species, tropical and subtropical regions of the world.
		+	The mesquits are thorny shrubs which ordinarily grow only a few feet high in the desert, but under favorable circumstances make trees 60 feet high. They are also called algaroba and cashaw. The sweetish pods are eaten chiefly by cattle. Seeds and plants are offered in southern California.
		+
		+	P. strombulifera, Benth. (Acacia strombulifera, Willd.), is a shrub 5-8 ft. high, with ash-gray bark, very short spines, lfts. of the pinnae 4-6-paired, linear, and the pod yellowish, about 2 in. long, and spirally twisted. Peru. F. Tracy Hubbard.
		+	}}
		+
	{{Taxobox		{{Taxobox
	\| color = lightgreen		\| color = lightgreen

Prosopis - Revision history

Kpdhage at 09:13, 20 September 2009

Envoy at 04:30, 27 April 2007