Common Name: Tamarugo

General Information

Prosopis tamarugo is a spiny, deciduous tree with a thin, open crown; it can grow 8 - 18 metres tall. The bole can be up to 80cm in diameter[, ].
The tree is widely harvested from the wild, especially for its wood, which is used for fuel.
The tree is so heavily exploited for fuel in parts of the Atacama Desert that it has been reduced to scattered stands[]. Attempts to plant the species within the area of its natural distribution have been successful. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2011)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

S. America - northern Chile.

Habitat

Arid salt flats, sometimes with salt incrustation of 10 - 60cm thickness at the surface and the water table at a depth of 20 metres[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Deciduous Tree
Height	12.00 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

The plant occurs naturally in arid areas of the tropics, within the latitudinal range 18 - 21°S, at elevations from 1,000 - 2,500 metres[]. It grows best in areas where annual daytime temperatures are within the range 18 - 32°c, but can tolerate 8 - 36°c[]. Dormant plants can be killed by temperatures of -12°c or lower, though fresh young growth can be killed at -1°c[]. It prefers a mean annual rainfall in the range 150 - 250mm, but tolerates 100 - 300mm[]. It is often found in areas where there is no rain for years at a time; however, at night there is a high relative humidity and the trees absorb moisture through the leaves[].
Requires a sunny position. Succeeds on salty, salty-sandy or clay-loam soils, sometimes with a 40cm salt encrustation at the surface[]. Prefers a pH in the range 7 - 8, tolerating 6.5 - 8.5[]. Established plants are very drought resistant, able to go for 12 months or more without rain[].
Under less harsh conditions that the plant experiences in its native environment, the plant might spread uncontrollably and become a serious weed[].
Trees can reach 10 metres in height within 15 years, even under harsh conditions[].
The tree coppices well, regenerating rapidly when cut back[, ].
Annual wood production potential is 2 - 4 cubic metres per hectare[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

The pods can be leached and used for food[].

Medicinal

None known

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is being planted in large numbers in northern Chile in a reforestation project - it is the only tree that can grow in such a harsh, arid climate[].

Other Uses

The wood is very heavy and very hard - making it difficult to work with[]. It is used for furniture, and construction[].
The wood is used for fuel and making charcoal[].

Propagation

Like many species within the family Fabaceae, once they have ripened and dried the seeds of this species may benefit from scarification before sowing in order to speed up and improve germination. This can usually be done by pouring a small amount of nearly boiling water on the seeds (being careful not to cook them!) and then soaking them for 12 - 24 hours in warm water. By this time they should have imbibed moisture and swollen - if they have not, then carefully make a nick in the seedcoat (being careful not to damage the embryo) and soak for a further 12 hours before sowing[].

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