Weed Identification

Australia > > Mesquite

Mesquite

Prosopis pallida

THIS PLANT HAS BEEN DECLARED A WEED OF NATIONAL SIGNIFICANCE

Alternative Name(s): Algaroba, Cloncurry Prickle Bush.

Family: Fabaceae or Mimosaceae.

Form: Tree

Origin: Native to north-western South America.

Flowers/Seedhead: Flowers: In greenish to yellow cylindrical spikes 5–12 cm long, on stalks arising from the base of the leaf (axil). Flowers predominantly spring to early summer.

Description: Tree or shrub to 10 m high. Leaflets grey-green. Pod 7–16 cm long, about 1 cm wide with 10–30 seeds, pods straight or slightly curved, margins parallel or with slight depressions between seeds.

Distinguishing features: Distinguished by often being single stemmed; paired stout spines develop near leaf base; spines 0.4 cm to more than 6 cm long, sometimes absent; leaves twice divided (bipinnate), primary divisions (pinnae) in 2–4 (rarely 1) pairs (see photo), leaflets to 10 mm long and to 3 mm wide in 7–15 pairs, hairy to almost hairless and pods hairless.

Dispersal: Animal (mainly) and water dispersed seed.

Confused With: Other Prosopis species in Australia, although they are usually multistemmed and have 1 or 2 (rarely 3) pairs of pinnae.


Flowering at Hughenden, Qld, August
photo C. Wilson

Notes: Widespread across northern inland Australia. Forms dense thorny thickets and displaces other plants. Stout thorns injure animals while thickets restrict access to water and hinder mustering. Deep rooted and survives long periods of drought. Timber is used for fence posts, firewood and furniture. Very salt tolerant. Some seeds long-lived.

References:

    Plant Protection Quarterly. R. van Klinken and S. Campbell, 2001, Vol. 16, pages 2–20. Noxious Weeds of Australia. W. Parsons and E. Cuthbertson, 1992, pages 449–454.

Web References: Search Australian web sites for further information on this weed.

Pairs of stout spines at base of bipinnate leaves
photo C. Wilson
Mature trees at Hughenden, Qld
Inset: germinating from cattle dung
photos C. Wilson

This weed has been included in the WEEDeck field guide as card T09

More information about WEEDeck is available from Sainty & Associates Pty. Ltd.

 

Australia > > Mesquite

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