Prosopis

Prosopis alba, habitus

Prosopis is a genus in the subfamily of the mimosa family ( Mimosoideae ) within the legume family ( Fabaceae ). They are very well adapted to dry habitats plants ( xerophytes ). There are also German trivial name Mesquite or Mesquite (from Nahuatl: mizquitl ) is used.

• 7.1 Notes and references

Description

Appearance and leaves

Prosopis species grow as trees or shrubs, rarely subshrubs and reach very different growth heights. They have deep roots. Some Prosopis species have 4 to 75 mm long thorns; some of them are hard enough to pierce shoe soles or car tires. The thorns are reformed branches or stipules.

The alternate arranged on the branches, stalked leaves are twice pinnate pairs, and depending on the kind of very different size and shaped. There are one or two first-order partial blades available. The number of leaflets varies from a few to many pairs, depending on the species, the leaves of some species possess adaptations to drought. Stipules absent, are converted to small or thorns

Inflorescences and flowers

They form pendant, usually cylindrical or spherical racemose inflorescences.

The small flowers are hermaphrodite fünfzählig with a double perianth ( perianth ). The five sepals are fused and the calyx teeth are only briefly. The five petals are fused to the middle. There are ten free stamens present. The ovary can stand on a stalk. In single carpel many ovules are present. Pollination is by insects.

Fruit and seeds

The elongated, thick or flattened, straight or crescent-shaped legumes not open at maturity and have a spongy mesocarp. The seeds are oval and flattened.

Ingredients and chromosome numbers

As chemotaxonomisches genus characteristic is the presence of 4- hydroxypipecolic acid in leaves and seeds. The chromosome number 2n = 28 is usually

Ecology

Prosopis species are extremely well adapted to the dry climate of their habitat. In their homeland they are considered by many farmers as " Unholz " because they compete with the grasses of the steppe to the moisture. A destruction of the shrubs is difficult, however, as they can multiply vegetatively from root residues in soil and are resistant to various herbicides. The plants grow extremely fast and can also thrive there where other plants have no livelihood.

Dissemination

Distribution area of the genus Prosopis is the Neotropical region from western North America to Patagonia, Argentina particularly diverse it makes its appearance. In addition, it is also found in Africa and the Middle East.

System

The genus Prosopis was erected in 1767 by Carl Linnaeus in Systema Naturae, 12th edition, 2, pp. 282, 293. Type species is Prosopis spicigera L., now a synonym Prosopis cineraria of (L.) Druce. The genus Prosopis belongs to the tribe in the subfamily Mimosoideae Mimoseae within the Fabaceae family. Synonyms for Prosopis L. are Lagonychium M.Bieb. , Sopropis Britton & Rose, Strombocarpa ( Benth. ) A. Gray.

The genus Prosopis is divided into five sections:

• Section Algarobia: With about 30 species.
• Section Anonychium, with only one African, thornless Prosopis africana type.
• Section Monilicarpa: with only one kind
• Section Prosopis: With three Asian species with spines similar to the Rose species ( Rosa).
• Section Strombocarpa: to thorns have reshaped stipules and closed, turned legumes with nine species.

There are about 45 Prosopis species:

• Prosopis abbreviata Benth. The home is Argentina.
• Prosopis affinis explosive. You widespread in Argentina, Brazil ( only in Rio Grande do Sul ), Paraguay, Peru and Uruguay.
• Prosopis africana ( Guill. & Perr. ) Taub. You widespread in tropical Africa and Saudi Arabia.
• Prosopis alba Griseb. Comes home to you in Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay and Peru. It thrives in the Gran Chaco, where it is called " Algarrobo Blanco ".
• Prosopis alpataco PHIL: The original distribution area in Argentina and Chile is not precisely known. It is an invasive plant in some areas.
• Prosopis argentina Burkart: It occurs in the Argentine provinces of Catamarca, La Rioja, Mendoza and San Juan.
• Prosopis articulata S.Watson: The range extends from Arizona to Baja California and Sonora.
• Prosopis burkartii O.Muniz: The home is Chile's Tarapaca.
• Prosopis caldenia Burkart: The home is Argentina.
• Prosopis calingastana Burkart: The original home is located in the Argentinean Andes.
• Prosopis campestris Griseb. The original home is located in Cordoba, Argentina and San Luis.
• Prosopis castellanosii Burkart: The original home located in Mendoza, Argentina and Neuquen.
• Prosopis chilensis ( Molina ) Stuntz: It is native to Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and Peru and is called in Chile " Algarrobo Chileno ". In many areas of the world she is a neophyte.
• Khejribaum ( Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce, Syn: Mimosa cineraria L., Prosopis spicigera L.): It thrives in India, for example, in the Thar Desert in western Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iran, and on the Arabia.
• Prosopis denudans Benth. The home is Argentina.
• Prosopis elata ( Burkart ) Burkart: The home is Argentina and Paraguay.
• Prosopis farcta ( Sol. ex Russell) JFMacbr. Areas located in the western Pakistan, Afghanistan, Asia Minor, the Arabian Peninsula, Cyprus, the Caucasus and Central Asia.
• Prosopis ferox Griseb. The home is Argentina and Bolivia.
• Prosopis fiebrigii Harms: The home is Argentina and Paraguay.
• Prosopis flexulosa DC. :: The home is Argentina, Bolivia and Chile, where it is called " Algarrobo Amarillo ".
• Honey Mesquite ( Prosopis glandulosa Torr. ): The range extends from the central United States to southern Mexico.
• Prosopis hassleri Harms: The home is Argentina and Paraguay, where it is called " Algarrobo del Chaco " or " Algarrobo Paraguayo ".
• Prosopis humilis Hook:. The home is Argentina.
• Prosopis juliflora ( Sw. ) DC. The wide range extends from Mexico to Peru and is known there as " Bayahonda " and also " Algarrobo Colorado ".
• Prosopis koelziana Burkart: The home is located in Iran, Saudi Arabia and South Yemen.
• Prosopis kuntzei Kuntze: The home is Argentina, Bolivia and Paraguay.
• Prosopis laevigata ( Willd.) MCJohnst. The wide range extends from Texas to Mexico and from Bolivia to Peru and Argentina.
• Prosopis nigra ( Griseb. ) Hieron. The wide distribution area extends from Bolivia through Paraguay and Uruguay to Argentina. It is called in South America " Algarrobo Negro".
• Prosopis pallida ( Willd.) Kunth ( syn. Prosopis limensis ): The original home area is located in Bolivia ( Chuquisaca only ), Colombia, Ecuador and Peru. In some areas it is an invasive plant. It is Spanish " Algarrobo ", " Huarango " in Peru and " Mesquite " and called in Hawaii " Kiawe ".
• Prosopis palmeri S.Watson: It is originally an endemic of southern Baja California. But it comes today in other areas also.
• Screw Bean Mesquite ( Prosopis pubescens Benth, Syn. Strombocarpa pubescens ( Benth. ) A. Gray ): He is in western New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, southern California, southern Nevada, southwestern Utah, Baja California, Chihuahua, Coahuila and Sonora resident.
• Prosopis pugionata Burkart: The exact homeland in Argentina is not known.
• Prosopis reptans Benth. Areas are known in Texas and the Mexican states of Nuevo Leon, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, as well as Peruvian Huancavelica and Argentina.
• Prosopis rojasiana Burkart: The original home is only Chaco in Paraguay. Today it is but can also be found in other areas.
• Prosopis rubriflora Hassl. The distribution area is probably Brazil and Paraguay.
• Prosopis ruizlealii Burkart: The original home is only Mendoza and Neuquen in Argentina. Today it is but can also be found in other areas.
• Prosopis ruscifolia Griseb. The wide distribution area extends from northeastern Brazil over the eastern Bolivia and western Paraguay to Argentina.
• Prosopis sericantha Hook:. The home is Argentina.
• Creeping Mesquite ( Prosopis strombulifera ( Lam.) Benth. ): The home is Argentina and northern Peru.
• Tamarugo ( Prosopis Tamarugo Phil.): The home is the northern Chile.
• Prosopis tamaulipana Burkart: It is native to Mexico.
• Prosopis torquata ( Lag ) DC. The home is Argentina.
• Velvet Mesquite ( Prosopis velutina Wooton )

Use

The wood is very hard and can be used for furniture or firewood. It is popular as a fire base at the barbecue, where it is to give the meat a unique flavor.

The beans Mesquitebaumes can be dried and processed to make flour, which is used as a basis for jellies and as a spice. In addition, the fermented beans provide the basis for Mesquitewein.

Swell

• SI Ali: Mimosaceae in the Flora of Pakistan: Prosopis - Online. ( Description section )
• AD Burghardt & SM Espert: Phylogeny of Prosopis (Leguminosae ) as shown by morphological and biochemical evidence, in: Austral. Syst. Bot, Volume 20, 2007, pp. 332-339.