prosopis
{{Short description|Genus of legumes}}
{{Automatic taxobox
|image = Khejri.jpg
|image_caption = Prosopis cineraria tree known as Khejri in Rajasthani and Hindi
|display_parents = 2
|taxon = Prosopis
|authority = L.{{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?9871 |title=Prosopis L. |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |date=1999-03-05 |access-date=2009-12-31}}
|type_species = Prosopis spicigera
|type_species_authority = L.{{cite web |url=http://www.tropicos.org/NameDetails.aspx?nameid=40016475 |title=Prosopis L. |work=TROPICOS |publisher=Missouri Botanical Garden |access-date=2009-12-31}}
|subdivision_ranks = Species
|subdivision = See text
|synonyms =
- Dasiogyna {{small|Raf. (1832)}}
- Lagonychium M.Bieb. (1819)
- Pleuromenes {{small|Raf. (1838)}}
|synonyms_ref = [https://powo.science.kew.org/taxon/urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:23337-1 Prosopis L.] Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
}}
Prosopis is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. The current circumscription of the genus contains three species found in northern Africa, the Middle East, Central and South Asia.{{cite taxon|POWO|id=23337-1 |title=Prosopis L. |access-date=11 February 2025}} Previously it also contained around 40 species of spiny trees and shrubs found in subtropical and tropical regions of the Americas and Africa, now mostly placed in genera Strombocarpa and Neltuma. They often thrive in arid soil and are resistant to drought, on occasion developing extremely deep root systems. Their wood is usually hard, dense and durable. Their fruits are pods and may contain large amounts of sugar. The generic name means "burdock" in late Latin and originated in the Greek language.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kaN-hLL-3qEC |title=CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names |volume=4 M-Q |first=Umberto |last=Quattrocchi |publisher=CRC Press |year=2000 |isbn=978-0-8493-2677-6 |page=2171}}
Species
The current circumscription of the genus contains three species, which are found in South Asia, the Middle East and northern Africa.{{cite taxon|POWO|id=23337-1 |title=Prosopis L. |access-date=11 February 2025}}{{Cite WFO|id=wfo-4000031235 |title=Prosopis L. |access-date=11 February 2025}}
- Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce – Persian mesquite, ghaf, khejri (Arabian Peninsula, Iran and South Asia){{cite taxon|POWO|id=515801-1 |title=Prosopis cineraria (L.) Druce |access-date=11 February 2025}}
- Prosopis farcta (Banks & Sol.) J.F.Macbr. – Syrian mesquite (northern Africa, Middle East, Central and South Asia){{cite taxon|POWO|id=515819-1 |title=Prosopis farcta (Banks & Sol.) J.F.Macbr.|access-date=11 February 2025}}
- Prosopis koelziana Burkart (Arabian Peninsula, Iraq and Iran){{cite taxon|POWO|id=515839-1 |title=Prosopis koelziana Burkart |access-date=11 February 2025}}
Traditionally the genus included many more species with a cosmopolitan distribution. A taxonomic monograph in 1976 by Arturo Erhardo Burkart recognised 44 species and subdivided the genus into five sections: section Anonychium in Africa, section Prosopis in Asia, and sections Algarobia, Monilicarpa and Strombocarpa in the New World.{{cite journal |last=Burkart |first=Arturo Erhardo |year=1976 |title=A Monograph of the Genus Prosopis (Leguminosae Subfam. Mimosoideae) |journal=Journal of the Arnold Arboretum |volume=57 |issue=3 |pages=219–249 |doi=10.5962/p.185864 |url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/185864 |doi-access=free }} Twelve additional species in section Algarobia have since been recognised. A genomic analysis published in 2022 concluded that Prospopsis was polyphyletic and that species traditionally grouped under the genus Prosopis belonged to four genera that broadly aligned with the Burkart's sections: Anonychium, Neltuma (for sections Algarobia and Monilicarpa), Prosopis, and Strombocarpa.{{cite journal |author1=Hughes, Colin E. |author2=Ringelberg, Jens |author3=Lewis, G. P. |author4=Catalano, Santiago |url=https://phytokeys.pensoft.net/article/75379/ |title=Disintegration of the genus Prosopis L. (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae, mimosoid clade) |issue=205 |journal=PhytoKeys |date=August 2022 |pages=147–189 |publisher=Pensoft Publishers |doi=10.3897/phytokeys.205.75379|pmid=36762004 |pmc=9849005 |doi-access=free |bibcode=2022PhytK.205..147H }}
The following phylogenetic tree shows the relationship of these genera (bold) with other closely related mimosoid genera.
{{clade
|label1=
|1={{clade
|1=Anonychium (Africa; formerly Prosopis sect. Anonychium)
|2={{clade
|1=Plathymenia
|2={{clade
|1=Fillaeopsis
|2={{clade
|1=Newtonia
|2={{clade
|1=Cylicodiscus
|2={{clade
|1=Indopiptadenia (an Indo-Nepalese monospecific genus)
|2=Prosopis sensu stricto (formerly Prosopis sect. Prosopis)
}}
|3={{clade|1={{clade|1=Neltuma (New World, former Prosopis sects. Algarobia + Monilicarpa)
|2={{clade
|1=Strombocarpa (New World, formerly Prosopis sect. Stromocarpa)
|2=Xerocladia (Namibian / Namaqualand monospecific endemic genus)
}}
}}
|2=remaining core mimosoids (many genera)
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
}}
= Selected former species =
; African species now placed in Anonychium
- Former Prosopis sect. Anonychium
- Prosopis africana (Guill. & Perr.) Taub. – African mesquite or gele (in Malinke, traditional djembe wood)
; New World species now placed in Strombocarpa
- Former Prosopis sect. Strombocarpa
- Prosopis abbreviata Benth. – algarrobillo espinoso
- Prosopis pubescens Benth. – screwbean mesquite
- Prosopis reptans Benth. – tornillo
- Prosopis strombulifera (Lam.) Benth. – creeping mesquite, Argentine screwbean
- Prosopis tamarugo Phil. – tamarugo
; New World species now placed in Neltuma
- Former section Monilicarpa
- Prosopis argentina Burkart
- Former section Algarobia
- Prosopis affinis Spreng. – nandubay, algarrobillo, espinillo, Ibopé-morotí
- Prosopis alba Griseb. – algarrobo blanco; ibopé or igopé (Guaraní)
- Prosopis caldenia Burkart – caldén
- Prosopis chilensis (Molina) Stuntz – algarrobo Chileno, algarrobo blanco
- Prosopis fiebrigii Harms
- Prosopis flexuosa DC. – alpataco, algarrobo negro
- Prosopis glandulosa Torr. – honey mesquite
- Prosopis hassleri Harms
- Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC.
- Prosopis kuntzei Harms ex Kuntze – itín, barba de tigre, carandá, palo mataco
- Prosopis laevigata (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) M.C.Johnst. – smooth mesquite
- Prosopis nigra (Griseb.) Hieron. – algarrobo negro, algarrobo amarillo, algarrobo dulce, algarrobo morado
- Prosopis pallida (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Kunth – American carob, huarango, kiawe (Hawaiian)
- Prosopis rojasiana Burkart
- Prosopis ruscifolia Griseb. – vinal
- Prosopis velutina Wooton – velvet mesquite
; Other species formerly placed in Prosopis
- Acacia atramentaria Benth. (as P. astringens Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.)
- Entada elephantina (Burch.) S.A.O’Donnell & G.P.Lewis (as P. elephantina (Burch.) E.Mey. or P. elephantorrhiza Spreng.)
- Prosopidastrum globosum (Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.) Burkart (as P. globosa Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.)
References
= Notes =
{{Reflist}}
General references
- Paciecznik, N. M., Harris P. J. C., & S. J. Smith. 2003. [https://web.archive.org/web/20060325145538/http://www.frp.uk.com/dissemination_documents/R7295_-_prosopis_field_guide_-_July_03.pdf Identifying Tropical Prosopis Species: A Field Guide]. HDRA, Coventry, UK. {{ISBN|0-905343-34-4}}.
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060321051407/http://www.fao.org/documents/show_cdr.asp?url_file=%2FDOCREP%2F006%2FQ2580E%2FQ2580E07.htm Handbook on taxonomy of Prosopis in Mexico, Peru and Chile] (FAO Document Repository)
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20051031090909/http://eebweb.arizona.edu/herb/PLWALK/pw1.html Plant Walk I: Old Main] (website of the Vascular Plant Herbarium of the University of Arizona in Tucson)
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060512040609/http://arboretum.arizona.edu/mainplants.html Plant Walk 1 UofA]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060415075323/http://cals-cf.calsnet.arizona.edu/arboretum/plantwalk/chart.cfm Plant Walk 2 UofA]
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Prosopis}}
- {{Wikispecies-inline}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20071225204040/http://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant_health/plant_pest_info/weeds/downloads/weedlist2006.pdf U.S. Federal Noxious Weed List (USDA)]
- [http://www.prosopis.net/ The Prosopis Website (Has a nice range map)]
{{Tannin source}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q133422}}