Common Name:

General Information

Prosopis hassleri is a deciduous tree growing 6 - 10 metres tall[]. The bole can be around 50cm in diameter[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials. A species certainly worthy of cultivation for shade, timber and the edible fruits, which are valuable for sweets[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - southern Paraguay, northern Argentina

Habitat

Forming open woods of the savannah type[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	8.00 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Species in this genus generaly require a suny 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

Fruit[]. The flesh inside the seedpod is pulpy with a sweet flavour[]. The seedpod is 14 - 24cm long and 12 - 15mm wide[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is dark red wood; it is distinctly demarcated from the thin band of white sapwood. The wood is compact, elastic, hard and heavy, very durable. It is used for the manufacture of paving stones, for the bodywork, and for the frames of tables, and for a range of rustic work[].
The wood is a good fuel and is used to make charcoal[].

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[].