Common Name:

General Information

Prosopis farcta is a much-branched, deciduous, prickly shrub or sub-shrub usually growing 30 - 80cm tall, though sometimes becoming more tree-like up to 2 - 3 metres tall[]. Occasionally (especially in the Jordan Valley), it can adopt a more climbing habit and has been seen to grow 8 - 10 metres tall into Populus euphratica trees. A deep-rooted plant, it often spreads freely by means of root suckers and can form dense thickets[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine. Although often viewed as a weed, in semi-arid areas such as in Iraq the plant is seen as an essential and integral part of a cropping system that has maintained the fertility of the ground and allowed profitable barley cultivation for thousands of years[].
The plant's ability to spread freely at the roots, and its ability to invade open areas such as fields, have led it to becoming viewed as a weed in many areas[].

Known Hazards

The seeds contain saponins. When large quantities are eaten they can cause inflammation to the digestive tract and quick peristalsis. Sensor and motor nerve fibers are also affected in a serious way
Although poisonous, saponins also have a range of medicinal applications and many saponin-rich plants are used in herbalism (particularly as emetics, expectorants and febrifuges) or as sources of raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry. Saponins are also found in a number of common foods, such as many beans.
Saponins have a quite bitter flavour and are in general poorly absorbed by the human body, so most pass through without harm. They can be removed by carefully leaching in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of raw foods that contain saponins.
Saponins are much more toxic to many cold-blooded creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish and make them easy to catch[].

Botanical References

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Range

Asia - Turkey & the Caucasus, south to the Arabian Peninsula, east to central Asia, Pakistan and northwest India; N. Africa - Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt

Habitat

Submontane plains and foothills in the desert belt, growing in river valleys and along seashores, often in saline soils, and also found as a weed of fields and pastures; at elevations up to 1,000 metres[].

Properties

Weed Potential	Yes
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	0.60 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Requires a sunny position and a well-drained soil. Succeeds in dry soils, growing best in deep alluvial soils and succeeding in saline conditions[].
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

None known

Medicinal

The seedpods are ground into a powder and used as an astringent and purgative. They are also used in the treatment of colonitis and dysentery[].
The fruits are used as a treatment for atherosclerosis and diabetes[].

The roots are used as a treatment for cardiovascular diseases[].
It has been shown with the plant root significantly reduced total cholesterol, triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein,
low-density lipoprotein, and very low density lipoprotein levels. This can lead to a reduction of chest pain and an overall improvement of cardiovascular health[].

Agroforestry Uses:

Profitable barley cultivation in Iraq depends on the existence of Prosopis farcta in the fields. This species counteracts salinification and maintains porosity of the soil by deep rooting (semi-cultivation?). Drought and salt resistance of this species is advantageous for soil improvement, as bee fodder and fodder plant for cattle and sheep in desert areas and for erosion control as well[].
A splendid bee plant, providing nectar and pollen[].

Other Uses

The roots are a good source of tannins[, ].

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[].