Texas Gardening: Texas Native Plant Pictures ( Trees ), 1 by htop

htop wrote:
Honey Mesquite (Prosopis juliflora), Mimosaceae Family, Texas native, deciduous, blooms mid-summer, may be a noxious weed or invasive

The most common shrub or small tree of the Desert Southwest, mesquite restores nitrogen to the soil. The bean pods can lie dormant for forty years and can be viable. The bean pods have been used by wildlife (especially deer), livestock and humans as a source of food. Believe it or not in late summer, it is estimated that over 75% of a coyote's diet is comprised of mesquite beans.

Native Americans counted upon the mesquite pod as a main source of food making ground meal called pinole, tea and syrup. The bark was employed in the production of medicines, fabrics and basketry. The yellowish-gold mesquite flowers produce a fragrant honey which is a favorite of bees and other insects.

A hated tree by many (large taproot and large root system uses up the moisture in the soil, thorny, invasive, seed pods make a mess, etc.) and loved by me. When the leaves fall from the mesquite, I know the first frost is not far behind. When the beautiful yellowish-green leaves sprout in spring, I know that the last frost has usually occurred and I start planting my frost sensitive plants. For some reason, it is frequently hit by lightening.

For more information, see its entry in the PlantFiles:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/go/31989/index.html

This message was edited Jul 16, 2017 9:42 AM