A staple food for cattle in arid regions. South Africans believe the ripe pod makes excellent fodder but the green pod is bitter and valueless. A ten percent infusion of the leaves shows some antibiotic activity. Pipecolic and 4-hydroxy pipecolic acid also occur in both, but varying concentrations of pipecolic acid and proline are interpreted as reflecting a plastic response to changing environmental conditions. Fresh pods, but not dry pods, are said to be harmful to horses.
Seeds contain small quantities of saponins.
Bark and root contain tannin. Germplasm Reported from the South American Center of Diversity, cupesi, or cvs thereof, is reported to tolerate drought. Distribution Extending from Peru and Bolivia to central Chile and northwestern Argentina. Ecology Our computer entries for Prosopis spp. are unreliable, partly due to past taxonomic confusion. I estimate this species ranges from Tropical Thorn to Moist through Subtropical Thorn to Moist Forest Life Zones.