honey mesquite
ExplorePlants
honey mesquite
Neltuma glandulosa
The honey mesquite is a special tree that grows in warm, dry places. It has long, feathery leaves and produces sweet pods that many animals love to eat!
Habitat: Desert
Appearance
The honey mesquite is a thorny shrub or small tree with a often gnarled trunk and feathery, light green compound leaves. It produces distinctive yellowish-green flowers on slender spikes and long, sweet, yellowish-brown seed pods.
KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassMagnoliopsidaOrderFabalesFamilyFabaceaeGenusProsopis
Category
PlantsRarity
Common
Danger
2/5 · Low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Ancient people used mesquite for tools, shelter, medicine, and food for thousands of years!
It's a desert champion, capable of surviving extreme heat and long periods of drought!
Its sweet pods can be ground into flour to make delicious bread or desserts!
The dense, aromatic mesquite wood is a favorite for grilling and barbecuing!
Special abilities
Ability
Root Diver
Honey mesquite can grow incredibly deep taproots that help it find water far underground in dry desert lands.
Ability
Thorny Protector
Honey mesquite has sharp thorns on its branches that help it defend against hungry animals trying to eat its leaves.
Ability
Soil Helper
Honey mesquite can fix nitrogen into the soil, helping enrich it and allowing other plants to grow nearby.
Ability
Fire Resistor
Honey mesquite can resprout quickly from its roots after fires, helping it survive and thrive in its habitat.
Measurements & details
- Height
- 500-900 cm
- Spread
- 300-600 cm
- Flower Size
- 0.2-0.5 cm
- Bloom Season
- Spring to summer
- Edible
- Yes
- Toxicity
- None
- Lifecycle
- Perennial
- Pollination Method
- Insect
Ecological connections
pollinates
honey bee
Apis mellifera
Bees collect nectar and pollen from its flowers.
eaten by
white-tailed deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Deer browse on its leaves and eat its sweet pods.
eaten by
coyote
Canis latrans
Coyotes consume the nutritious pods, aiding seed dispersal.
shelters
cactus wren
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Wrens build nests in its thorny branches for protection.
Traits
Deciduous
Deciduous plants periodically shed all their leaves, typically during autumn or dry seasons.
Nitrogen Fixing
Describes organisms capable of converting atmospheric nitrogen into compounds usable by plants.
Shade Tolerant
Shade tolerant plants are adapted to grow and thrive in areas with low light levels, requiring less direct sunlight.
Broadleaf Tree
Broadleaf trees are angiosperms characterized by flat, wide leaves that are typically shed annually in temperate climates.
Fruit Bearing
Fruit-bearing plants produce fruits, which are the mature ovaries of flowering plants containing seeds.
Drought Tolerant
Drought-tolerant plants can survive and flourish in conditions with limited water availability.
Edible
Edible plants are those parts of a plant that are considered safe for human consumption.
Desert
Desert habitats are arid regions characterized by extremely low precipitation and often extreme temperatures, supporting specialized flora and fauna.
Longevous
This trait characterizes organisms with an exceptionally long lifespan compared to others of their kind.
Keystone Species
Describes a species whose presence and role have a disproportionately large effect on its environment.
Also known as
Sweet Mesquite
Collections
Safety
Danger
2/5 · Low
Be careful around trees and watch for sharp thorns on their branches.
Frequently Asked Questions
How tall is honey mesquite?
500-900 cm
How wide does honey mesquite spread?
300-600 cm
How big are the flowers on honey mesquite?
0.2-0.5 cm
When does honey mesquite bloom?
Spring to summer
Is honey mesquite edible?
Yes
Is honey mesquite toxic?
None
What is honey mesquite's lifecycle?
Perennial
How is honey mesquite pollinated?
Insect
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