Prosopis ferox Griseb.

Family: Fabaceae,  Subfamily: Mimosoideae

NOTE: Only two seeds of Prosopis ferox were available for examination. Therefore, the description and images in this fact sheet may not be representative of this species’ seeds.

Description

Pods cylindric, terete or subterete, straight or falcate to C-shaped, 2.5-7 cm long, 9-18 mm in diameter, with prominent placental suture, very short stipe (sessile). Apex obtuse and mucronate, margins straight, nonundulate. Straw-yellow when ripe, veins obscure; seed chambers not visible. Endocarp segmented, not closed, thin, easily broken; mesocarp spongy, tannic, bitter. Seeds oriented transversely in 2 irregular rows.

Seeds obovate in outline, 4.5-6.5 mm long, 3.5-4.5 mm wide, ca. 1 mm thick, umbo absent, oblong in cross section. Pleurogram distinctly basal, broadly open.

Identification remarks

Seeds have a rather small pleurogram. Pods are distinctive because of their cylindric shape, curve, and straw-yellow color when ripe.

P. tamarugo F. Phil. (the only other species in the series Cavenicarpae), has pods more strongly curved, often annular, 7-11 mm in diameter, with sutures impressed, seeds 3-4.3 mm long; indigenous to Chile. [No image available.]

Distribution

Argentina, Bolivia.

Habitat

High semidesert at 2,400 to 3,700 m elevations.

General information

Prosopis ferox is a shrub or tree 2-5(7) m tall, used as a shade tree. Its wood is used for fuel and the pods can be eaten.

For more information about the genus Prosopis, see the Prosopis fact sheet.

Seeds

Lens and hilum of seed

Pods

Pods

A, Pod; B, seed; C, longitudinal section of seed showing embryo; D, transection of seed

drawing by Lynda E. Chandler