South American Mesquite
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South American Mesquite
  
(Prosopis alba)
  
TREES LINING SOUTH DRIVE BETWEEN FORBES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
  
24 Often mistakenly called Chilean Mesquite. These trees are representative of Southern hemisphere mesquites. Some are believed to be hybrids. South American Mesquites have become popular for shade in South America because they tolerate difficult soils and require less water then most shade trees. They are also nearly evergreen which the North American Mesquites are not.

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In Depth Prosopis alba, South American Mesquite
Location: TREES LINING SOUTH DRIVE BETWEEN FORBES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
Family: Fabaceae
Distribution: Argentina, Bolivia, Chile
Habitat: Low arid land and dry wash beds
Habit: Small multi-trunk tree
Flowering: Yellowish / cream catkin
Natural History Notes: The Mesquite tree is the common name for a whole genus, the Prosopis genus, rather than just one species. The Prosopis genus is comprised of over 45 species of trees. Of the 45 species, Prosopis alba, also known as the Argentine Mesquite, has hybridized with the SW native Prosopis velutina, creating a whole range of characteristics, including lack of thorns and persistent year round foliage. All mesquite trees are valued as firewood, especially for the flavor the resulting smoke gives in BBQ’s. The trees produce bean pods in abundance, prized as fodder for a great variety of wildlife. They are even used for human consumption. With frequent landscape irrigation, mesquites develop large lush tops with inadequate root systems and can often blow over. This unfortunate trait, however, is easily avoided by watering less frequently, and watering very deeply. This will encourage deeper root growth, balancing with the top and providing anchorage.