Mesquite

Mesquite is the common name for several species of small trees. They are native to the southwestern United States and Mexico (except for creeping mesquite, which is invasive in southern California). Mesquite is one of the most expensive types of lumber in the U.S. A mature tree can be milled and sold for thousands of dollars. It was a very popular type of wood used by early Spaniards to build ships; but is now used most commonly for high end rustic furniture and cabinets. Scraps and small pieces are used commonly as wood for cooking in southern states; and also brings a premium on the market.

The Tamaulipan mezquital ecoregion, in the deserts and xeric shrublands biome, is located in the southern United States and northeastern Mexico. It covers an area of 141,500 km2 (54,600 sq mi), encompassing a portion of the Gulf Coastal Plain in southern Texas, northern Tamaulipas, northeastern Coahuila, and part of Nuevo León

This tree blooms from spring to summer.

Etymology

The English word mesquite is borrowed from the Spanish word mezquite, which in turn was borrowed from the Nāhuatl term mizquitl.

As an introduced and invasive species

Honey mesquite has been introduced to parts of Africa, Asia, and Australia and is considered by the World Conservation Union as one of the world's most problematic invasive species.

Species

• Prosopis alba (white mesquite)
• Prosopis cineraria
• Prosopis chilensis (Chilean mesquite)
• Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite)
• Prosopis humilis
• Prosopis juliflora
• Prosopis laevigata (smooth mesquite)
• Prosopis nigra (black mesquite)
• Prosopis pallida
• Prosopis pubescens (screwbean mesquite)
• Prosopis reptans (tornillo)
• Prosopis strombulifera (creeping mesquite)
• Prosopis velutina (velvet mesquite)

See also

• Mesquite Bosque
• Tamaulipan mezquital

External links

• USDA NRCS Plants Database
• Honey mesquite, Screwbean mesquite, and Western mesquite at Texas A&M's Plant Answers
• Honey mesquite at the Texas Tree Planting Guide
• AgNews article on wood to ethanol using mesquite
• Mesquite Furniture Maker Directory
• Mesquite Roasted Coffee web site devoted to mesquite wood fire roasting of coffee
• Mesquite Local Business Directory
• Casa de Fruta
• Mesquite Furniture

• Entry for mizquitl in the A Nahuatl–English Dictionary and Concordance to the Cantares Mexicanos by John Bierhorst (p. 216).
• Entry for mesquite in the Diccionario de la lengua española (Real Academia Española).
• Entry for mesquite in the Online Etymology Dictionary.
• Honey mesquite in Texas