Mesquite (the genus Prosopis) is represented by about 45 species of trees and shrubs native to North America, Central/South America and Africa/Asia. The word prosopis is an ancient Greek plant name, used by Dioscorides apparently for burdock. Only trees are included in the following list.
North American species
Prosopis glandulosa algaroba, bilayati kikar, common mesquite, cuji, honey locust, honey mesquite, honey-pod, ibapiguazu, inesquirte, ironwood, mesquite, screwbean, Torrey mesquite, wawahi, western honey mesquite
Prosopis pubescens mescrew, screwbean, screwbean mesquite, screw-pod mesquite, scrub mesquite, tornillo
Prosopis velutina mesquite, velvet mesquite
South/Central American species
Prosopis abbreviata algarrobillo espinoso
Prosopis alba acacia de catarina, algaroba, algaroba blanca, algarobo, algarroba, algarrobe blanco, algarrobo, algarrobo bianco, algarrobo blanco, algarrobo impanta, algarrobo panta, aroma, barbasco, bate caixa, bayahonda, carbon, chachaca, cuji yaque, ibope-para, igope, igope-para, ironwood, jacaranda, manca-caballa, mesquite, nacasol, screwbean, tintatico, visna, vit algarroba, white algaroba
Prosopis affinis algarobilla, algarobillo, algarrobilla, algarrobo nandubay, algarrobo negro, calden, espinillo, espinillo nandubay, ibope-moroti, nandubay
Prosopis articulata mesquit, mesquite, mesquite amargo
Prosopis caldenia calden
Prosopis calingastana cusqui
Prosopis chilensis algaroba chilena. algaroba du chili, algarroba, algarrobo, algarrobo blanco, algarrobo cileno, algarrobo de chile, algarrobo panta, arbol blanco, chilean algaroba, chileens algaroba, cupesi, dicidivi, divi-divi, mesquite, nacascal, nacascol, nacascolote, nasascalote, tcako, trupillo
Prosopis cineraria jambu, kandi, shami
Prosopis ferox churqui, churqui blanco, churqui jujeno, quiscataco
Prosopis flexulosa algarroba, algarrobo, algarrobo amarillo, algarrobo dulce, algarrobo negro, arbol negro, lamar, lamaro, panta negro
Prosopis hassleri algarrobo, algarrobo del chaco, algarrobo paraguayo
Prosopis juliflora acacia de catarina, algaroba, algarobo, algarroba, algarrobo, algarrobo Colorado, algarrobo del brasil, aroma, aroma americana, aromo, barbasco, baron, bate caixa, bavahonda, bayahonda, bayahonde, bayarone, biia, cambron, carbon, cashaw, catzimec, chachaca, chucata, cuida, cuji, cuji amarillo, cuji carora, cuji negro, cuji yaque, espino ruco, ganda babool, gandasein, guatapana, guisache, haas, honey locust, huupa, inda-a, indjoe, indju, ironwood, jacaranda, ju’upa, jupala, katzimelk, kuigi, maiz criollo, maje, manca caballo, manca-caballa, mareno, me-equite, mesquit-tree, mesquite, mesquito, mezquite, mezquite amarillo, mezquite blanco, mezquite chino, mezquite Colorado, mimisquicuabitl, mimisquitl, misquitl, mizquitl, nacascol, nacasol, prosopis de mexique, qui, t’hai, tai, taj, tepemezquite, tintatico, toji, trupillo, tsirisicua, ttahi, tziritsequa, tziritzecua, uejoue, upala, utuh, visna, wawabi, yaga-bu, yaque, yaque blanco, yaque negro
Prosopis kuntzei barba de tigre, caranda, itin, jacaranda, lanza-lanza, palo mataco, yacaranda, yacaranda itin
Prosopis laevigata algarrobo, mesquite, mezquite, thako
Prosopis nandubay algarrobillo, espinillenhout, espinillo, nandubay
Prosopis nigra acacia de catarina, agarrobo morado, algaroba, algaroba negra, algaroba negro, algaroba noir, algarobo, algarroba, algarroba dulce, algarroba negro, algarrobi negro, algarrobo, algarrobo amarillo, algarrobo negro, algeroba negra, arbol negro, aroma, barbasco, bate caixa, bayahonda, black algaroba, carbon, chachaca, cuji yaque, ibope-hu, ibope-saiyu, igope-guazu, ironwood, jacaranda, manca-caballa, mesquite, mezquite, nacasol, screwbean, tintatico, visna, yura-tacu, zwarte algaroba
Prosopis pallida algaroba, algarroba, algarroba paiva, algarrobo, algarrobo americano, carobier, huarango, kiawe, mesquite
Prosopis palmeri palo de hierro, palo fierro
Prosopis panta algarobilla, algarrobo, algarrobo panta, cama tala, cama tale, panta
Prosopis pugionata algarrobo, algarrobo de las salinas, alpataco
Prosopis rubiflora espinillo
Prosopis ruscifolia algarrobo blanco, ibope-moroti,
olkha, pao de espinho, quilin,
vinal, visnal, yuncumarim
Prosopis tamarugo tamarugo
Prosopis tamaruya tamarugo
Prosopis torquata lata, quenti, schinqui, tintitaco, tusca
Prosopis vinalillo algarrobo blanco, algarrobo santiagueno, quilin, vinalillo
African/Asian species
Prosopis africana abusurug, akaba, akaka, guele, ir, kaki, kiriya, kpanena, palo, pangi, pau carvao, stenkoltra, zingili
Prosopis cineraria ghaf, ihand, jambu, jand, jandi, jhand, shumi
Prosopis pallida algarroba, bayahonda, kiawe, mesquite
The Tree:
Prosopis alba reaches heights of 60 ft (24 m), with diameters of 5 ft (2 m) (94).
Prosopis affinis reaches heights of 65 ft (26 m), with diameters of 2 ft (0.6 m) (94).
Prosopis glandulosa reaches heights of 40 ft (16 m), with diameters of 10 inches (25 cm) to 4 ft (1.2 m) (74).
Prosopis juliflora reaches heights of 40 ft (16 m), with a diameter of 4 ft (1.2 m). It is a deciduous tree with a short, twisted bole, which is cultivated as an ornamental and used for reforestation and conservation in dry areas. It is moderately fast-growing (4).
Prosopis kuntze is a low tree, 35 ft (11 m) tall and 2 ft (0.6 m) in diameter, with large, sharp spines. It is devoid of leaves for most of the year (74, 94).
Prosopis nanduba rarely reaches heights of 20 ft (6 m) (74).
Prosopis nigra reaches heights of 33 to 52 ft (10 to 16 m), with a diameter of 1.3 to 4 ft (0.4 to 1.2 m) and a clear bole of 10 ft (3 m) (94, 96).
Prosopis ruscifolia reaches heights of 50 ft (15 m), with diameters of 1.5 ft (0.5 m) (94).
General Wood Characteristics:
Prosopis alba: The sapwood is light yellow, while the heartwood is reddish brown changing to dark brown. The wood has a pronounced stripe, with spiral to interlocked grain (94).
Prosopis affinis: The sapwood is yellow, while the heartwood is a reddish brown, changing to dark brown upon exposure to the air. The wood has a medium texture, with spiral to interlocked grain (94).
Prosopis caldenia: The sapwood is yellow-ochre; the heartwood is reddish brown, turning chestnut brown after cut. The wood has pronounced stripes, with a medium texture and wavy, interlocked grain (94).
Prosopis glandulosa: The sapwood is a lemon yellow, while the heartwood is a deep reddish brown. The wood is dense, close grained, very hard and heavy, but somewhat brittle. It is exceedingly resistant to heartwood decay, with a thin sapwood. It contains high concentrations of tannins (94).
Prosopis juliflora: The sapwood is narrow and pale yellow, while the heartwood is yellowish brown to dark brown. The wood has a slight luster, straight to wavy grain, and medium to coarse texture. It has a fragrant odor when freshly cut. It is hard, heavy, tough and strong (4).
Prosopis kuntzei: The sapwood is light yellow, while the heartwood is chestnut brown with patches of dark violet. The heartwood darkens upon exposure. The wood has a fine texture and straight to wavy to interlocked grain. This species is probably the densest wood of the genus (74, 94).
Prosopis nigra: The sapwood is yellow-ochre, while
the sapwood is chestnut brown, darkening upon exposure, and sometimes
has a wavy stripe. The texture is average, with slanted, interlocked
grain. The wood is resistant to heartwood decay and is heavy
(94, 96).
Prosopis ruscifolia: The sapwood is light yellow; the heartwood ranges from yellow-brown to reddish brown, with dark stripes, and darkens upon exposure. The wood has coarse to medium texture, with wavy to interlocked grain (94).
Weighta
Weight
Species SG lb/ft3 kg/m3
Prosopis alba 0.75–0.85b NA NA
Prosopis 0.93–1.05b NA NA
affinis
Prosopis 0.65–0.75b NA NA
caldenia
Prosopis 0.80–0.92c 50–58c 801–929
chilensis
Prosopis 0.819d NA NA
glandulosa
Prosopis 0.944b 50.5–56e 809–897
juliflora
Prosopis 1.20–1.35b NA NA
kuntzei
Prosopis nigra 0.85b NA NA
0.80f NA NA
Prosopis 0.70–0.85b NA NA
ruscifolia
aMoisture content equals 12%.
bReference (94).
cReference (74).
dReference (103).
eReference (4).
fReference (96).
Mechanical properties
Property Green Dry
Prosopis affinis
MOE NA NA 1.42a 106 9.791 GPa
lbf/in2
MOR NA NA 6.43a 103 44.335 MPa
lbf/in2
C| | NA NA NA NA
C 7.04a 103 48.541 NA NA
lbf/in2 MPa
WML NA NA NA NA
Hardness NA NA NA NA
Shear| | NA NA NA NA
Prosopis alba
MOE NA NA 0.882a 106 6.081 GPa
lbf/in2
MOR NA NA 9.15a 103 63.089 MPa
lbf/in2
C| | NA NA 8.51a 103 58.676 MPa
lbf/in2
C NA NA 4.55a 103 31.372 MPa
lbf/in2
WML NA NA NA NA
Hardness NA NA NA NA
Shear| | NA NA NA NA
Prosopis caldenia
MOE NA NA NA NA
MOR NA NA 4.82a 103 33.234 MPa
lbf/in2
C| | NA NA 4.65a 103 32.062 MPa
lbf/in2
C NA NA NA NA
WML NA NA NA NA
Hardness NA NA NA NA
Shear| | NA NA NA NA
Mechanical properties—con.
Property Green Dry
Prosopis juliflora
MOE 1.80b 106 12.411 2.06b 106 14.204 Gpa
lbf/in2 GPa lbf/in2 9.170
1.33a
MOR 10.6b 103 73.087 16.5b 103 113.768
lbf/in2 MPa lbf/in2 Mpa
12.3a 84.809
C| | 5.30b 103 36.544 9.00b 103 62.055 Mpa
lbf/in2 MPa lbf/in2 62.882
9.12a
C NA NA NA NA
WML NA NA NA NA
Hardness NA NA 2940a lbf 13077.12 N
Shear| | 1.32b 103 9.101 MPa 2.18b 103 15.031 MPa
lbf/in2 lbf/in2
Prosopis kuntzei
MOE NA NA 2.52a 103 17.375 GPa
lbf/in2
MOR NA NA 22.3a 103 153.759
lbf/in2 MPa
C| | NA NA 12.7a 103 87.567 MPa
lbf/in2
C NA NA NA NA
WML NA NA NA NA
Hardness NA NA NA NA
Shear| | NA NA NA NA
Prosopis nigra
MOE NA NA 0.853a 106 5.881 Gpa
lbf/in2 9.515
1.38c
MOR NA NA 9.02a 103 62.193 Mpa
lbf/in2 92.393
13.4c
C| | NA NA 8.28a 103 57.091 Mpa
lbf/in2 59.987
8.70c
C NA NA 4.41a103 30.407 MPa
lbf/in2
WML NA NA NA NA
Hardness NA NA NA NA
Shear| | NA NA 1.99a 103 13.721 MPa
lbf/in2
aReference (94).
bReference (4).
cReference (96).
Drying and shrinkagea
Percentage of shrinkage
(green to final moisture
content)
Type of shrinkage 0% MC 12% MC 20% MC
Tangential
Prosopis alba 3.1b 2.8c 0.7b
Prosopis glandulosa 3.2d 1.4d 0.144d
Prosopis juliflora 8.1e 7.1e NA
Prosopis kuntzei NA 5.3c NA
Prosopis nigra NA 2.5c NA
Prosopis nigra NA 3.0f NA
Drying and shrinkage—con.
Percentage of shrinkage
(green to final moisture
content)
Type of shrinkage 0% MC 6% MC 20% MC
Radial
Prosopis alba 2.2b 2.1c 0.2b
Prosopis 1.6d 0.72d 0.09d
glandulosa
Prosopis juliflora >5.1e >4.1e NA
Prosopis kuntzei NA 4.3c NA
Prosopis nigra NA 1.9c NA
Prosopis nigra NA 2.1f NA
Volumetric
Prosopis alba NA 8.2c NA
Prosopis 4.8d 2.12d 0.23d
glandulosa
Prosopis kuntzei NA 11.0c NA
Prosopis nigra NA 6.6c NA
Prosopis nigra NA 6.8f NA
aProsopis juliflora: This species tends to
produce small checks during air
drying, but it is very stable (4). Prosopis
nigra: Rated as very stable (96).
bReference (95).
cReference (94).
dReference (103).
eReference (4).
fReference (96).
Working Properties:
Prosopis juliflora works easily with most tools and finishes smoothly, but it does not take a high polish. Preboring is necessary for nailing (4).
Durability: Mesquite is rated as very resistant to heartwood decay (98).
Prosopis juliflora is classed as resistant to very resistant to heartwood decay. It is susceptible to Lyctus beetles, termites and pinhole bores. (4)
Prosopis nigra is resistant to heartwood decay in damp and open air conditions (96).
Preservation:
Prosopis nigra is slightly permeable with reduced absorption. Immersion or surface treatments are good if parts are sapwood, although puncturing will work somewhat (96).
Uses:
Prosopis chilensis: Fuel, posts, stakes (74).
Prosopis glandulosa: Buildings, cabinetry, posts, charcoal, fuel, railway crossties, paving blocks (74).
Prosopis juliflora: Charcoal, firewood, buildings, cabinetry, and posts; pods are good for fodder (4).
Prosopis nandubay: Posts (74).
Prosopis nigra: Flooring, cooperage, firewood, charcoal, posts, boats, carriages, turnery, furniture, frames for doors and windows (96).
Toxicity: Dermatitis has been reported for Prosopis juliflora, P. africana and P. glandulosa, possibly due to an alkaloid, prospinine (40, 64, 105).
Additional Reading: 10, 29, 55, 74. 55, 66, 68, 74, 79. 28, 29, 42, 43, 44, 48, 50, 55, 56, 68, 72, 73, 74, 79, 92, 97, 102. 74, 75, 77, 99, 106. 101.