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biodiversity explorer

the web of life in southern Africa

Genus: Prosopis

Life > eukaryotes > Archaeoplastida > Chloroplastida > Charophyta > Streptophytina > Plantae (land plants) > Tracheophyta (vascular plants) > Euphyllophyta > Lignophyta (woody plants) > Spermatophyta (seed plants) > Angiospermae (flowering plants) > Eudicotyledons > Fabales > Family: Fabaceae > Subfamily: Mimosoideae

About 44 species, mainly native to America but also to SW Asia and Africa. No native species in southern Africa, but four species have become naturalised in this region, and an additional three species are cultivated in the region.

Species naturalised in southern Africa

List from Plants of Southern Africa - an Online Checklist (SANBI).

Prosopis chilensis (Algaroba)

Native from Peru to Argentina.

 

Prosopis glandulosa (Mesquite, Honey mesquite)

Native to southwestern USA. A declared Category 2 invasive plants in South Africa.

Prosopis pubescens (Screw bean)

Native to southwestern USA.

 

Prosopis velutina (Velvet mesquite)

Native to Mexico. A declared Category 2 invasive plants in South Africa.

 

Other species, cultivated in southern Africa

List from Glen (2002).

Prosopis juliflora

Native from Mexico to South America.

  

Prosopis laevigata

Native to Mexico.

 

Prosopis tamarugo

Native to Chile.

 

Links

Publications

  • Glen, H.F. 2002. Cultivated Plants of Southern Africa. Jacana, Johannesburg.