February 2013 10
HONEY MESQUITE
Prosopis glandulosa
With its feathery leaves and long, bumpy seed pods, The Honey Mesquite is a recognizable medium-sized flowering tree that lives in the southwest, from California to Louisiana, though 76% of America's mesquite trees grow in Texas. This drought-tolerant tree is hard to remove; when you cut one down, a new, multi-trunked mesquite will quickly grow in its place. The Honey Mesquite is native to the southwest, but has become invasive in other parts of the world, making the IUCN's "World's Worst 100 Invasive Species".
Mesquite provides good slow-
burning firewood great for smok-
ing meat. The deep taproots are
often larger than the trunks, and
they can be dug up for firewood.
Animals like to eat the sweet seed
pods, and people can grind them
into a flour to make bread. The
green pods can be made into a
syrup, and a broth can also me
made from boiled pods. They are
still commonly eaten in Mexico,
and can be fermented to make
wine. Mesquite pods can be used
as fodder for sheep, goats and pigs.
The tree usually grows 20 to 30 feet high, but can reach heights of 50 feet. Honey mesquites produce fragrant yellow flowers that bees turn into great honey, hence the tree's common name.
Photo by Beth Anderson