Prosopis

Prosopis
File:Prosopis caldenia.jpg
Prosopis caldenia, a species of central Argentina.
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
(unranked):	Angiosperms
(unranked):	Eudicots
(unranked):	Rosids
Order:	Fabales
Family:	Fabaceae
Subfamily:	Mimosoideae
Tribe:	Mimoseae
Genus:	Prosopis L.
Type species
Prosopis spicigera L.
Species
See text.

Prosopis is a genus of flowering plants in the pea 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 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.)

Phytochemistry

Prosopis species have been found to contain 5-hydroxytryptamine, apigenin, isorhamnetin-3-diglucoside, l-arabinose, quercetin, tannin, and tryptamine.

Prosopis species known to contain alkaloids

Prosopis alba	Beta-phenethylamine and tryptamine
Prosopis alpataco	"Aerial parts" contain tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.
Prosopis argentina	"Aerial parts" contain tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.
Prosopis chilensis	"Aerial parts" contain beta-phenethylamine and derivatives plus tryptamine
Prosopis argentina	Exudate contains tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.
Prosopis glandulosa	Alkaloids in bark and roots, tyramine and N-methyltyramine (a stimulant) in leaves
Prosopis juliflora	5-HTP (plant) and tryptamine (plant).
Prosopis nigra	Harman, eleagnine, and N-acetyltryptamine
Prosopis pugionata	"Aerial parts" contain tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.
Prosopis tamarugo	Phenethylamine

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 is now very common in the drier coastal parts of the islands, where it is called the kiawe tree, which 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 6 in (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. 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

General references

• Paciecznik, N. M., Harris P. J. C., & S. J. Smith. 2003. Identifying Tropical Prosopis Species: A Field Guide. HDRA, Coventry, UK. ISBN 0-905343-34-4.
• Handbook on taxonomy of Prosopis in Mexico, Peru and Chile (FAO Document Repository)
• Plant Walk I: Old Main (website of the Vascular Plant Herbarium of the University of Arizona in Tucson)
• Plant Walk 1 UofA
• Plant Walk 2 UofA

External links

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