Mesquite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
- This article is for the Mesquite plant. For cities named "Mesquite", see Mesquite, Texas or Mesquite, Nevada.
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Mesquite (from Nahuatl mizquitl) is a leguminous plant of the Prosopis genus found in Northern Mexico and the United States from the U.S.-Mexico border in Texas up to southwestern Kansas and from southeastern California and southwestern Utah to the southern limits of the Sonoran desert.
Mesquite trees are also found in the Chihuahuan Desert of Mexico. Mediterranean mesquite is found in the steppes of Syria and northern Iraq. The species Prosopis pallida was introduced to Hawai‘i in 1828, and is now very common in the drier coastal parts of the islands called the Kiawe tree which is a prime source of monofloral honey production.
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[edit] Description
These deciduous trees generally reach a height of 6 to 9 meters (20 to 30 ft), although in most of their range they are shrub size. They have narrow, bipinnately compound leaves 50 to 75 mm (2 to 3 inches) long that are sharply pointed. Some common species of Mesquite are Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), Velvet Mesquite (Prosopis velutina), Creeping Mesquite (Prosopis strombulifera) and Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens).
Mesquite is an extremely hardy, drought-tolerant plant because it can draw water from the water table through its long taproot (recorded at up to 190 ft in depth). However, it can also use water in the upper part of the ground, depending upon availability. The tree can easily and rapidly switch from utilizing one water source to the other.
Many people, especially ranchers, consider the tree a nuisance because they believe it competes with rangeland grasses for moisture. In many parts of Texas, particularly West and Central Texas, the proliferation of mesquite is partly responsible for lowering of groundwater tables. However, salt cedar has had a greater effect on water consumption, in some cases even displacing existing mesquite. [1]
Eradicating mesquite is difficult because the plant's bud regeneration zone can extend down to 6 inches (150 mm) below ground level. The tree can regenerate from a piece of root left in the soil. Some herbicides are not effective or only partially effective against mesquite. Grubbing techniques for removal, while effective against short-term regrowth, are expensive, costing upwards of $70/acre ($17,000/km²).
New growth of mesquite has needle-sharp thorns up to 75 mm (3 in) long. The spines are tough enough to penetrate the soft soles of sneakers or similar footwear, and can easily puncture tires.
[edit] Benefits
Mesquite trees grow quickly and furnish shade and wildlife habitat where other trees will not grow. Being a legume, it fixes nitrogen in the soil where it grows, although this is rather newly discovered and is still a poorly understood part of its life cycle.
Mesquite wood is hard, allowing it to be used for furniture and implements. Wood from the Prosopis juliflora and Prosopis glandulosa is used for decorative woodworking and woodturning. It is highly desirable due to its dimensional stability. The hard, dense lumber is also sold as Texas Ironwood.
As firewood, mesquite burns slowly. When used to barbecue, the smoke from the wood adds a distinct flavor to the food. In addition, the flowers provide a nectar source for bees to produce mesquite monofloral honey, which contains the same smoky flavors.
Mesquite leaves were once used medicinally; water infused with the leaves can be used as eye drops.
The bean pods of the mesquite can be dried and ground into flour, adding a sweet, nutty taste to breads, or used to make jelly or wine.
[edit] Species
- Prosopis glandulosa
- Prosopis juliflora: Plants of Prosopis juliflora were introduced to Kenya in the 1980s in an attempt to reduce desertification. The plants have survived surprisingly well, to the point of becoming a pest. Although successful in the task of preventing desertification, the plants poisonous thorns have been accused harming "both people and livestock", and of reducing goats’ ability to graze, as they lose their teeth from decay caused by the seeds of the fruits lodging in their gums. Source: BBC Online news report - Killer weed hits Kenyan herders.
- Prosopis pallida
- Prosopis pubescens
- Prosopis strombulifera
- Prosopis velutina
[edit] External links
- Honey mesquite, Screwbean mesquite, and Western mesquite at Texas A&M's Plant Answers
- Honey mesquite at the Texas Tree Planting Guide
- AgNews article on wood to ethanol using mesquite
