Algarobo, Pau-de-espinho
Prosopis ruscifolia
Family: Fabaceae
What it is like
A tree. It grows 6-16 m tall. The crown is round. It has thorns 3-15 cm long. The trunk is upright and 30-45 cm across. The bark is thick and has cracks along the length. The leaves are compound and twice divided. The leaflets are opposite and has no leaf stalks. There are 2-5 pairs. The fruit is a curved pod. It is 15-30 cm long. There are yellowish purple marks on the ripe pod. There are 10-24 hard seeds.
Also as Mimosaceae.
Where it is found
A subtropical plant. In Argentina it grows from sea level to 1,000 m above sea level.
Countries/locations it is found in
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, South America (country/location of origin), Uruguay
How it is used for food
The pods are cooked and eaten or used as a dry meal. The pods are boiled and crushed and the juice eaten.
Edible parts
Fruit, pods
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed. The seed are removed from the ripe pod. They have a hard seed coat that needs to be broken. Fresh seed are planted and germinate in 1-2 weeks.
Its other names
Local names
Algarrobo colorado, Algarrobo de hoja grande, Ibope moroti, Libope, Mata pasto, Morote, Olkha, Quilin, Quilino, Teyt, Vinal, Visnal