Prosopis

Prosopis is a genus of about 45 species of leguminous spiny trees and shrubs found in subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas, Africa and southwest Asia. They often thrive in arid soil and are resistant to droughts, 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.

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Species

Some of the species in this genus are:

• Mesquite species (southern United States, Mexico):
  • Prosopis glandulosa (Honey Mesquite)
  • Prosopis pallida
  • Prosopis pubescens (Screwbean Mesquite)
  • Prosopis reptans (Tornillo)
  • Prosopis strombulifera (Creeping Mesquite)
  • Prosopis velutina (Velvet Mesquite)
• South American species (algarrobos of the Gran Chaco and others):
  • Prosopis affinis (Ñandubay)
  • Prosopis alba (Algarrobo blanco)
    • Prosopis alba var. panta (Algarrobo panta)
  • Prosopis caldenia (Caldén)
  • Prosopis chilensis (Algarrobo chileno)
  • Prosopis fiebrigii
  • Prosopis flexuosa (Alpataco)
  • Prosopis hassleri
  • Prosopis juliflora
  • Prosopis kuntzei (Itín)
  • Prosopis nigra (Algarrobo negro)
  • Prosopis rojasiana
  • Prosopis ruscifolia (Vinal)
  • Prosopis tamarugo (Tamarugo)
• African species
  • Prosopis africana
• Asian species (India (mainly Rajasthan), Syria, Iraq):
  • Prosopis cineraria (Khejri, Jand, Sangri, Kandi)
• Uncategorized species

Phytochemistry

Prosopis has been found to contain 5-hydroxytryptamine, apigenin, isorhamnetin-3-diglucoside, l-arabinose, quercetin, tannin and tryptamine.^[1]

Photos

References

Notes

1. ^ Medicinal Plants of the Southwest
2. ^ Graziano MN, Ferraro GE, Coussio JD., Alkaloids of Argentine medicinal plants. II.
3. ^ ^{a b c d e} Alejandro Tapiaa, Gabriela Egly Feresina, Daniel Bustosa, Luis Astudillo, Cristina Theoduloz, Guillermo Schmeda-Hirschmann Biologically active alkaloids and a free radical scavenger from Prosopis species, Journal of Ethnopharmacology Volume 71, Issue 1-2, pp. 241 - 246, July, 2000
4. ^ ^{a b} Proximate composition and biological activity of Chilean Prosopis species, Luis Astudillo, Guillermo Schmeda-Hirschmann, Juan P Herrera, Manuel Cortés
5. ^ MPSW
6. ^ Purdue University
7. ^ Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases
8. ^ wiki.magiskamolekyler.org (Swedish)

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

See also

• Arabian Desert and East Sahero-Arabian xeric shrublands
• Northwestern thorn scrub forests
• Invasive species in Australia