Common Name:

General Information

Prosopis laevigata is a spiny shrub or small tree, sometimes no more than 3 metres tall but more commonly around 6 - 10 metres tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of materials. It is locally cultivated as shade tree in central Mexico[].
The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(1998)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

,

Range

Southern N. America - Arizona, Texas, Mexico; southern S. America - Argentina, Bolivia

Habitat

Abundant in various types of xeric scrub and grassland, on flat terrain, hillsides, ravines and riverbeds. Also found in secondary vegetation and disturbed sites such as farmland, paddocks and roadsides; at elevations from 1,400 - 2,200 metres[]

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Tree
Height	8.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prosopis laevigata is found in the warm temperate to subtropical zones of southern N. America and southern S. America, extending from there into the low tropics of Mexico and Bolivia.
Species in this genus generaly require a sunny position in a well-drained soil[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria; these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

The sweet tasting pods are used as food[, , ]. The seedpods are usually 6 - 20cm long and 7 - 11mm wide, containing 10 - 20 brown seeds around 6mm long and 5mm wide[].

Medicinal

The plant is used medicinally[].

The leaves are antioxidant and have cardioprotection potential. They are quite useful in the treatment of heart diseases[].

The gum of the plant, when mixed in water, is used to treat throat infections and dysentery[]. The gum is eaten like a sweet to treat coughs[].

The shoots and juice are used in the treatment of conjunctivitis, and have been found to provide relief against eye inflammations[, ].

A decoction of the bark of young branches is used to treat colic in babies and infants[].
The plant (part not specified) is used to treat a range of other digestive problems including inflammation of the digestive tract, dysentery, stomach disorders. It can be used in the form of an enema to treat dysentery[].
Other conditions treated by this plant include whooping cough, fevers, toothache, hoarseness and sore throats[].

A methanol extract of the bark and leaves has shown strong antibacterial activity[].

A decoction of the flowers is used as a bath to treat rashes and other skin problems[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are a good source of nectar for bees[].
This plant is used to provide windbreaks[].

Other Uses

The plant also has exhibited anticorrosion activity on aluminium subjected to sulphuric acid. It undergoes the process of adsorption on the metal surface and forms a film between the metal surface and the surrounding corrosive environment.[].

The wood is heavy and very durable. Where wood of good dimensions can be obtained, it is used for making furniture, kitchen utensils (chopping boards, botaneros) and handicrafts, and is also used for fence posts[].
The wood has a high density and the trunks are often of irregular shape, so it is mainly used for fuel[].

Propagation

Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have ripened and dried the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[].