Prosopis


Prosopis is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family, Fabaceae. It contains around 45 species of spiny trees and shrubs found in subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas, Africa, Western Asia, and South Asia. 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.

Selected species

Prosopis species have been found to contain 5-hydroxytryptamine, apigenin, isorhamnetin-3-diglucoside, l-arabinose, quercetin, tannin, and tryptamine.
Prosopis albaBeta-phenethylamine and tryptamine
Prosopis alpataco"Aerial parts" contain tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.
Prosopis argentina"Aerial parts" contain tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.
Prosopis chilensis"Aerial parts" contain beta-phenethylamine and derivatives plus tryptamine
Prosopis argentinaExudate contains tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.
Prosopis glandulosaAlkaloids in bark and roots, tyramine and N-methyltyramine in leaves
Prosopis juliflora5-HTP and tryptamine.
Prosopis nigraHarman, eleagnine, and N-acetyltryptamine
Prosopis pugionata"Aerial parts" contain tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.
Prosopis tamarugoPhenethylamine

The tannins present in Prosopis species are of the pyrogallotannin and pyrocatecollic types. The tannins are mainly found in the bark and wood while their concentration in the pods is low.
Some species, such as P. africana or P. velutina, produce a gum.

As an introduced and invasive species

The species Prosopis pallida was introduced to Hawaii in 1828 and now dominates many of the drier coastal parts of the islands, where it is called the kiawe tree and is a prime source of monofloral honey production.
In Australia, invasive Prosopis species are causing severe economic and environmental damage. With their thorns and many low branches, Prosopis shrubs form impenetrable thickets which prevent cattle from accessing watering holes, etc. They also take over pastoral grasslands and suck up scarce water. Prosopis species cause land erosion due to loss of grassland that are habitats for native plants and animals. Prosopis thickets also provide shelter for feral animals such as pigs and cats.
For more information on invasiveness of mesquite species, see Prosopis glandulosa and Prosopis juliflora.

Eradication

Eradicating Prosopis is difficult because the plant's bud regeneration zone can extend down to below ground level; the tree can regenerate from a piece of root left in the soil. Some herbicides are not effective or only partially effective against mesquite. Spray techniques for removal, while effective against short-term regrowth, are expensive, costing more than $70/acre in the USA. Removing large trees requires tracked equipment; costs can approach $2,000 per acre. In Australia, several techniques are used to remove Prosopis.

General references

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