Prosopis Velutina

Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Prosopis velutina, commonly known as velvet mesquite, is a small to medium sized perennial tree. It is a legume adapted to a dry, desert climate. Though considered to be a noxious weed in states outside its natural range, it plays a vital role in the ecology of the Sonoran Desert. Velvet mesquite is native to the Sonoran, Mojave, and Chihuahuan deserts. It grows at elevations below 4,000 to 5,000 feet in desert grasslands and near washes. The main distribution is in central and southern Arizona and in adjacent Sonora Mexico. Near waterways, mesquites can form deciduous woodlands called bosques. Velvet mesquite can grow to 30-50 ft (9-15 m) tall or more. It grows larger in areas with ample water, smaller in open, dry grasslands. The youngest branches may be green and photosynthetic. Young bark is reddish-brown and smooth.