Fabaceae

Prosopis species

Common Names: Mesquite

Plant Form: Shrub to small tree. Size: 3-15 m tall. Stem: Single in tree form or multiple in shrub form. Characteristic zig-zag shape with smooth dark reddish-green bark when young becoming grey and rough with age. A pair of spines normally arise above leaf stalks. Leaves: Twice-divided fern-like with 1-4 pairs of leaflets each with 7-21 secondary leaflet pairs. Often with 1-2 thorns at base of leaf. Flowers: Greenish cream-yellow flowers in cylindrical flowerhead 5-8 cm long. Fruit and Seeds: Smooth pods which are green when young turning straw-coloured or purplish with age. Up to 20 cm long, with slight constrictions between each of 5-20 seeds within. Habitat: Rangelands, shrublands. Distinguishing Features: Differs from Acacias (Acacia species) and Prickly acacias (Vachellia species) by having a cylindrical rather than globular flowerhead.