Scientific Family
Fabaceae
Synonyms
Neltuma velutina, Prosopis juliflora, Prosopis chilensis var. velutina, Prosopis juliflora var. articulata (see http://swbi)
Other common names
mesquite
Plant type
Trees
Riparian
No
Plant Description
Origin
Native
Large shrub or small tree with low hanging branches. When undisturbed typically has 1 dominant trunk, but when grazed or cut back several crooked and arching stems develop into a broad round crown.
Thorny single or multiple trunked tree; branches often crooked, arched, rough shreddy bark. Leaves alternate, twice compound, 9 to 30 pairs of leaflets. Stout, straight paired spines on either side of leaves. Flowers are spike-like clusters.
Height
30 feet
Width
15 to 30 feet
Habitat
Habitat description
Common along washes, in bottomlands, on slopes and mesas.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Low elevation
0
High elevation
5000
Leaves
Leaf color
Green
Leaf type
Compound
Leaf shape
Round or oval
Leaf margin
Smooth
Leaf hairs
Top and bottom of leaves
Spines
Yes
Leaf Drop
Deciduous
A central stalk of each leaf splits into 2 stalks each with 10 to 20 leaflets. Leaflets are 1/4 to 1/2 inch long and leaves are 3 to 6 inches long. Leaflets have a slightly fuzzy texture due to a covering of short gray hairs.
Flowers
Flower color
Yellowish-green
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
March
Last bloom month
August
Flowers are small and fragrant in slender cylindrical clusters to 6 inches long.
Flower clusters
Elongated
Fruit
Fruit color
Light brown
Fruit type
Pod
Straight pods occur singly or in drooping clusters, 3 to 7 inches long, tubular and bean-like, short pointed, slightly constricted between seeds, ripening in mid to late summer.