Black mesquite, Black carob
Prosopis nigra

Family: Fabaceae

What it is like

A tree. It grows 4-12 m high. It has some spines. The crown is irregular and has scattered leaves. The trunk is short and has grooves. It is 40-80 cm across. The bark is grey and splits in an irregular pattern. The leaves are compound. They have one pair of leaflet stalks with 12-24 pairs of leaflets along them. The flowers are in the axils of the leaves. The fruit is a pod that is constricted between the seeds. The pods are 7-18 cm long and has 10-18 seeds.

Also as Mimosaceae.

Where it is found

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in open vegetation in Argentina and Uruguay. It can grow in salty soils. It can grow in arid places. In Argentina it grows below 500 m above sea level.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Egypt, North Africa, Paraguay, South America (country/location of origin), Uruguay

How it is used for food

The fruit pulp is sweet and is eaten. The pods are used to make flour.

Edible parts

Fruit, seeds - flour

How it is grown

Plants are grown from seeds. The seeds are collected from ripe pods off the tree. The pods are dried in the sun to make it easier to remove the seeds. Seeds should be planted fresh. Seedlings emerge in 7-15 days.

Plants grow slowly.

Its other names

Local names

Algarrobo amarillo, Algarrobo negor, Algarrobo negro, Echaha, Espinillo blanco, Ibope hu, Ibope-para, Igope, Igope guazu, Ishiojsok, Thako negro, Woshishyuk, Yana-tacu, Yura-tacu, Yvope hu

Synonyms

Prosopis algarrobilla var. nigra Griseb.; Prosopis dulcis Kunth; Prosopis dulcis var. australis Benth.;