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| ## honey mesquite {#honey-mesquite .Title-Header}                     |
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| *Prosopis glandulosa* Torr.                                           |
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| Plant Symbol = PRGL2                                                  |
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Contributed by: USDA NRCS National Plant Data Center

### ![](media/image2.jpeg){width="2.8847222222222224in" height="2.636111111111111in"}

##### Alternate Names

mesquite, glandular mesquite, algaroba

##### Uses

*Ethnobotanic*: The Apache and Isleta applied the juice from the leaves
of honey mesquite to eyelids as a treatment for irritation. The Comanche
chewed the leaves and swallowed the juice for an antacid. The Acoma
ground the beans into flour and prepared the flour as a mush. They would
also cook and eat the beans whole. The Navajo used the wood from honey
mesquite to construct bows.

##### Status

Please consult the PLANTS Web site and your State Department of Natural
Resources for this plant's current status (e.g. threatened or endangered
species, state noxious status, and wetland indicator values).

##### Weediness

This plant may become weedy or invasive in some regions or habitats and
may displace desirable vegetation if not properly managed. Please
consult with your local NRCS Field Office, Cooperative Extension Service
office, or state natural resource or agriculture department regarding
its status and use. Weed information is also available from the PLANTS
Web site at plants.usda.gov.

##### Description

######## General: Legume Family (Leguminosae). Honey mesquite can be a shrub or tree ranging from 4 to 6 m tall. One or two stout spines are found at the nodes. The leaves are alternate, bipinnate, and have petioles. There are usually one paired division (pinnae) per leaf and 6 to 15 leaflets per pinna. The leaflets are 15 to 62 mm long and smooth. The flowers are in axillary spikes that are 7 to 9 cm long. The flowers are yellow in color. The calyx has a shallow, cup-like shape. Each flower has 10 stamens and white woolly ovaries. The legumes are straight and nearly as thick as they are broad (7-20 cm long). The legumes are reddish-brown in color and constricted between seeds. The seeds are 6 to 6.5 mm long and brownish in color. 

*Distribution*: For current distribution, please consult the Plant
Profile page for this species on the PLANTS Web site.

*Habitat*: Honey mesquite is found on plains and dry ranges.

##### Adaptation

Honey mesquite is tolerant of high intensity fires. Following top-kill
by fire, sprouts arise from underground buds that are dormant on an
underground stem.

##### Establishment

Honey mesquite pods should be harvested when the seeds rattle inside the
pod and stored in a dry place. Prior to planting the seed coats should
be scarified by chipping, cutting, or exposing to boiling water. Seeds
germinate best between temperatures of 20 to 40 °C. Germination usually
occurs within six hours of seed wetting. Scarified or sprouted seeds
should be planted in well-drained soils. The best growth occurs where
roots can reach ground water. Honey mesquite prefers full sun.

##### Pests and Potential Problems

Honey mesquite may suffer from stem fungal diseases in southern Texas.
However, generally when grown in its native habitat and using local seed
stock, honey mesquite should not be prone to debilitating pests.

##### Cultivars, Improved, and Selected Materials (and area of origin)

These materials are readily available from commercial plant sources.
Contact your local Natural Resources Conservation Service (formerly Soil
Conservation Service) office for more information. Look in the phone
book under "United States Government." The Natural Resources
Conservation Service will be listed under the subheading "Department of
Agriculture."

##### Control

##### Please contact your local agricultural extension specialist or county weed specialist to learn what works best in your area and how to use it safely. Always read label and safety instructions for each control method. Trade names and control measures appear in this document only to provide specific information. USDA, NRCS does not guarantee or warranty the products and control methods named, and other products may be equally effective.

##### References

Bainbridge, D.A. & R.A. Virginia 1989. *Mesquite, species notes 1*.
Systems Ecology Research Group, San Diego State University, San Diego,
California. 14 pp.

Basehart, H.W. 1974. *Apache Indians XII. Mescalero Apache subsistence
patterns and socio-political organization.* Garland Publishing Inc. New
York, New York. 480 pp.

Carlson, G.G. & V.H. Jones 1940. *Some notes on uses of plants by the
Comanche Indians*. Papers of the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts, and
Letters 25:517-542.

Castetter, E.F. 1935. *Ethnobiological studies in the American Southwest
I. Uncultivated native plants used as sources of food*. University of
New Mexico Bulletin 4:1-44.

Correl, D.S. & M.C. Johnston 1970. *Manual of the vascular plants of
Texas*. Texas Research Foundation, Renner, Texas. 1881 pp.

Elmore, F.H. 1944. *Ethnobotany of the Navajo*. University of New Mexico
Press, Albuquerque, New Mexico. 136 pp.

Gilman, E.F. & D.G. Watson 1994. *Prosopis glandulosa*. Fact Sheet
ST-502. University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

<http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/trees/PROGLAA.pdf>

Great Plains Flora Association 1986. *Flora of the Great Plains*.
University Press of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas. 1392 pp.

Moerman, D.E. 1998. *Native American ethnobotany*. Timber press,
Portland, Oregon. 927 pp.

Moerman, D.E. 1999. *Native American ethnobotany database: Foods, drugs,
dyes and fibers of native North American peoples*. The University of
Michigan-Dearborn. <http://www.umd.umich.edu/cgi-bin/herb>.

Mooney, H.A., B.B. Simpson, & O.T. Solbrig 1977. *Phenology, morphology,
physiology*. IN B.B. Simpson (ed), *Mesquite: its biology in two desert
scrub ecosystems*. Dowden, Hutchinson, and Ross, Stroudsburg,
Pennsylvania. Pages 26-43.

Texas A&M University 2002. *Native trees of Texas*. Department of
Horticulture, College Station, Texas.
\<http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/natives/prosopisglandulosavargland.htm\>.
Accessed: 30May2002.

United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service 2001. *Fire
effects information system*. Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire
Sciences Laboratory, Boise, Idaho.

<http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/tree/progla/index.html>

##### Prepared By: 

##### *Matthew D. Hurteau*

##### Formerly USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, c/o Environmental Horticulture Department, University of California, Davis, California

##### Species Coordinator: 

##### *M. Kat Anderson* 

##### USDA, NRCS, National Plant Data Center, c/o Plant Sciences Department, University of California, Davis, California

##### Edited: 30May2002 jsp ; 29may03 ahv; 060808 jsp

For more information about this and other plants, please contact your
local NRCS field office or Conservation District, and visit the PLANTS
Web site\<[http://plants.usda.gov](http://plants.usda.gov/)\> or the
Plant Materials Program Web site
\<[http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov](http://Plant-Materials.nrcs.usda.gov/)\>

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*To file a complaint of discrimination write USDA, Director, Office of
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