Prosopis glandulosa Torrey

Honey Mesquite
Fabaceae - Fabales

[Plants of San Diego County HOME]

Protologue: Ann. Lyceum Nat. Hist. New York 2: 192 (1827)
Pronunciation:Pro-sò-pis glan-du-lò-sa
Etymology: Gr. name for burdock (Arctium, Asteraceae), unknown why it applies to this plant + glandular/provided with glands

Three varieties are recognized:
Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa - California, Mexico, Texas & slightly northward
Prosopis glandulosa var. prostrata Burkart - Texas & northeastern Mexico
Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana (L.D.Benson) M.C.Johnston - California to Texas, northern Mexico

Jepson eFlora Treatment of Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana

Jepson eFlora Key to Prosopis taxa

SD County Synoptic Voucher of Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa [naturalized in Penasquitos Canyon, San Diego]
SD County Synoptic Voucher of Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana

Distribution:
 
Left: S.D. County Plant Atlas (http://sdplantatlas.org). Right: CCH2. Click to see current herbarium records.  

 
Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana
Left: A tree or large shrub, with a long taproot that can absorb from the water table.
Right: Leaves are geminate-pinnate. The inflorescence is a group of spikes.


Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana
Note geminate-pinnate leaves and paired stipular spines.

Cal Photos images

Google images