Prosopis

''Prosopis'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. The current circumscription of the genus contains three species found in northern Africa, the Middle East, Central and South Asia. Previously it also contained around 40 species of spiny trees and shrubs found in subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas and Africa, now mostly placed in genera '' Strombocarpa'' and ''Neltuma''. They often thrive in arid soil and are resistant to drought, 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. The generic name means " burdock" in late Latin and originated in the Greek language.

Species

The current circumscription of the genus contains three species, which are found in South Asia, the Middle East and northern Africa.

* ''Prosopis cineraria'' ( L.) Druce – Persian mesquite, ghaf, khejri (Arabian Peninsula, Iran and South Asia)
* '' Prosopis farcta'' (Banks & Sol.) J.F.Macbr. – Syrian mesquite (northern Africa, Middle East, Central and South Asia)
* ''Prosopis koelziana'' Burkart (Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and Iran)

Traditionally the genus included many more species with a cosmopolitan distribution. A taxonomic monograph in 1976 by Arturo Erhardo Burkart recognised 44 species and subdivided the genus into five sections: section ''Anonychium'' in Africa, section ''Prosopis'' in Asia, and sections ''Algarobia'', ''Monilicarpa'' and ''Strombocarpa'' in the New World. Twelve additional species in section ''Algarobia'' have since been recognised. A genomic analysis published in 2022 concluded that ''Prospopsis'' was polyphyletic and that species traditionally grouped under the genus ''Prosopis'' belonged to four genera that broadly aligned with the Burkart's sections: '' Anonychium'', ''Neltuma'' (for sections ''Algarobia'' and ''Monilicarpa''), ''Prosopis'', and '' Strombocarpa''.

The following phylogenetic tree shows the relationship of these genera (bold) with other closely related mimosoid genera.

Selected former species

; African species now placed in '' Anonychium''

* Former ''Prosopis'' sect. ''Anonychium''
** '' Prosopis africana '' (Guill. & Perr.) Taub. – African mesquite or ''gele'' (in Malinke, traditional ''djembe'' wood)

; New World species now placed in '' Strombocarpa''

* Former ''Prosopis'' sect. ''Strombocarpa''
** '' Prosopis abbreviata'' Benth. – algarrobillo espinoso
** '' Prosopis pubescens'' Benth. – screwbean mesquite
** '' Prosopis reptans'' Benth. – tornillo
** '' Prosopis strombulifera'' ( Lam.) Benth. – creeping mesquite, Argentine screwbean
** '' Prosopis tamarugo'' Phil. – tamarugo

; New World species now placed in ''Neltuma''

* Former section ''Monilicarpa''
** '' Prosopis argentina'' Burkart
* Former section ''Algarobia''
** '' Prosopis affinis'' Spreng. – nandubay, algarrobillo, espinillo, Ibopé-morotí
** '' Prosopis alba'' Griseb. – algarrobo blanco; ''ibopé'' or ''igopé'' ( Guaraní)
** '' Prosopis caldenia'' Burkart – caldén
** '' Prosopis chilensis'' ( Molina) Stuntz – algarrobo Chileno, algarrobo blanco
** '' Prosopis fiebrigii'' Harms
** '' Prosopis flexuosa'' DC. – alpataco, algarrobo negro
** '' Prosopis glandulosa'' Torr. – honey mesquite
** '' Prosopis hassleri'' Harms
** '' Prosopis juliflora'' (Sw.) DC.
** '' Prosopis kuntzei'' Harms ex Kuntze – itín, barba de tigre, carandá, palo mataco
** '' Prosopis laevigata'' (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) M.C.Johnst. – smooth mesquite
** ''Prosopis nigra'' (Griseb.) Hieron. – algarrobo negro, algarrobo amarillo, algarrobo dulce, algarrobo morado
** '' Prosopis pallida'' (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Kunth – American carob, ''huarango, kiawe'' ( Hawaiian)
** '' Prosopis rojasiana'' Burkart
** '' Prosopis ruscifolia'' Griseb. – vinal
** '' Prosopis velutina'' Wooton – velvet mesquite

; Other species formerly placed in ''Prosopis''

*'' Acacia atramentaria'' Benth. (as ''P. astringens'' Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.)
*'' Entada elephantina'' (Burch.) S.A.O’Donnell & G.P.Lewis (as ''P. elephantina'' (Burch.) E.Mey. or ''P. elephantorrhiza'' Spreng.)
*'' Prosopidastrum globosum'' (Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) Burkart (as ''P. globosa'' Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.)

References

Notes

General references

*Paciecznik, N. M., Harris P. J. C., & S. J. Smith. 2003
Identifying Tropical Prosopis Species: A Field Guide
HDRA, Coventry, UK. .

(FAO Document Repository)

(website of the Vascular Plant Herbarium of the University of Arizona in Tucson)
Plant Walk 2 UofA

External links

*
*
U.S. Federal Noxious Weed List (USDA)The Prosopis Website (Has a nice range map)

{{Taxonbar, from=Q133422

Forages
Medicinal plants
Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus
Fabaceae genera