Title: Mesquite - description, history, use and benefits
Headings: MESQUITE

Content: Range
Sonoran, Mojave and Chihuahuan deserts from western Texas, west to
extreme southwestern Utah, southeastern California and adjoining
Mexico. Habitat
Alongside desert washes and streams, plains and hillsides, often in
thickets below 5,500 feet. Description
Honey Mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa)
Honey Mesquite is a shrub or small tree characterized by 8-inch,
bean-like pods and 3-inc spines occurring at large nodes on branches. It
reaches a height of 20 feet; the trunk may be up to 12 inches in diameter. Honey Mesquite has smooth, brown bark that roughens with age. Narrow, bipinnately compound leaves 2 to 3 inches long are sharply
pointed. They are yellowish green in color with oblong leaflets 1/8" wide
and 1 1/4" long. Honey Mesquite blooms in May displaying 1/4-inch long fragrant, creamy
yellow flowers in narrow 3-inch clusters. The fruit is a flat, narrow,
yellow-green pod up to 8 inches long and ending in a point.