Prosopis spp. is a native of South and Central America and India and are closely related to Acacia. Mesquite is a low
tree with slender, gray branches. Prickles are few, none, or copious, 0.3 to 0.6 cm long, nearly straight, at first straw-colored. Pinnae
are 2.5 to 5.0 cm long: leaflets 16 to 24. Flowers in axillary spikes, 5.0 to 7.5 cm long and in terminal panicles. Pod is straight, edible,
smooth, 10 to 15 cm long, 0.6 cm thick, narrowing gradually to a short stalk; the mesocarp is starchy. Seeds are 10 to 15 cm, dull
brown, oblong. The sickle-shaped fleshy pods are 4 to 8 in. long and contain a sweetish mucilaginous pulp. The seeds furnish a yellow
dye. A manna-like substance exudes from the trunk and branches.
