Prosopis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. The current circumscription of the genus contains three species found in northern Africa, the Middle East, Central and South Asia. Previously it also contained around 40 species of spiny trees and shrubs found in subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas and Africa, now mostly placed in genera Strombocarpa and Neltuma. They often thrive in arid soil and are resistant to drought, on occasion developing extremely deep root systems. Their wood is usually hard, dense and durable. Their fruits are pods and may contain large amounts of sugar. The generic name means "burdock" in late Latin and originated in the Greek language.
Species
The current circumscription of the genus contains three species, which are found in South Asia, the Middle East and northern Africa.
Traditionally the genus included many more species with a cosmopolitan distribution. A taxonomic monograph in 1976 by Arturo Erhardo Burkart recognised 44 species and subdivided the genus into five sections: section Anonychium in Africa, section Prosopis in Asia, and sections Algarobia, Monilicarpa and Strombocarpa in the New World. Twelve additional species in section Algarobia have since been recognised. A genomic analysis published in 2022 concluded that Prosopis was polyphyletic and that species traditionally grouped under the genus Prosopis belonged to four genera that broadly aligned with the Burkart's sections: Anonychium, Neltuma (for sections Algarobia and Monilicarpa), Prosopis, and Strombocarpa.
The following phylogenetic tree shows the relationship of these genera (bold) with other closely related mimosoid genera.
Selected former species
African species now placed in Anonychium
- Former Prosopis sect. Anonychium
- Prosopis africana <small>(Guill. & Perr.) Taub.</small> – African mesquite or gele (in Malinke, traditional djembe wood)
New World species now placed in Strombocarpa
New World species now placed in Neltuma
- Former section Monilicarpa
- Prosopis argentina <small>Burkart</small>
- Former section Algarobia
- Prosopis affinis <small>Spreng.</small> – nandubay, algarrobillo, espinillo, Ibopé-morotÃÂ
- Prosopis alba <small>Griseb.</small> – algarrobo blanco; ibopé or igopé (GuaranÃÂ)
- Prosopis caldenia <small>Burkart</small> Рcald̩n
- Prosopis chilensis <small>(Molina) Stuntz</small> – algarrobo Chileno, algarrobo blanco
- Prosopis fiebrigii <small>Harms</small>
- Prosopis flexuosa <small>DC.</small> – alpataco, algarrobo negro
- Prosopis glandulosa <small>Torr.</small> – honey mesquite
- Prosopis hassleri <small>Harms</small>
- Prosopis juliflora <small>(Sw.) DC.</small> This has become established as an invasive weed in Africa, Asia, Australia and elsewhere.
- Prosopis kuntzei <small>Harms ex Kuntze</small> – itÃÂn, barba de tigre, carandá, palo mataco
- Prosopis laevigata <small>(Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) M.C.Johnst.</small> – smooth mesquite
- Prosopis nigra <small>(Griseb.) Hieron.</small> – algarrobo negro, algarrobo amarillo, algarrobo dulce, algarrobo morado
- Prosopis pallida <small>(Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Kunth</small> – American carob, huarango, kiawe (Hawaiian)
- Prosopis rojasiana <small>Burkart</small>
- Prosopis ruscifolia <small>Griseb.</small> – vinal
- Prosopis velutina <small>Wooton</small> – velvet mesquite
Other species formerly placed in Prosopis
- Acacia atramentaria <small>Benth.</small> (as P. astringens <small>Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.</small>)
- Entada elephantina <small>(Burch.) S.A.OâÂÂDonnell & G.P.Lewis</small> (as P. elephantina <small>(Burch.) E.Mey.</small> or P. elephantorrhiza <small>Spreng.</small>)
- Prosopidastrum globosum <small>(Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) Burkart</small> (as P. globosa <small>Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.</small>)
References
Notes
General references
External links