Common Name:

General Information

Prosopis torquata is a spiny, erect or spreading shrub or small tree growing 1 - 5 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of materials.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - western and northwestern Argentina

Habitat

A common and important component of seme-desert, montane vegetation[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	3.50 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Prosopis torquata is found in the arid and semi-arid regions of subtropical western Argentina, where summers can be very hot and there can be frosts in winter.
Species in this genus generaly require an open, 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

Seedpod - raw or cooked[]. There is an edible, pulpy layer between the seedpods and the seed[].The fruit can also be fermented and made into a kind of beer and a spirit[].
Fruit develops into 1-3 irregular, rather open spirals containing around 8 - 13 seeds[].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

Both the wood and the bark are rich in tannin. They can beused to manufacture a black ink[].

Although of small dimensions, the wood is of good quality. It is used locally for making beds and wheels of cars, mortars to tread maize and various other items[].
The wood makes a good 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[].