If you would like to support this site, please consider Donating.
Useful Tropical Plants

Prosopis vinalillo

Stuck.

Fabaceae

+ Synonyms

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Prosopis vinalillo is a tree growing 3 - 10 metres tall. The bole can be 10 - 50cm in diameter[
491
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 57
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1976
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical magazine, this issue has a comprehensive treatment of the genus Prosopis as well as several other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The tree is possibly harvested from the wild for its seedpods.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

491
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 57
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1976
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical magazine, this issue has a comprehensive treatment of the genus Prosopis as well as several other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

S. America - Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating *
Other Uses Rating *
HabitTree
Height6.00 m
PollinatorsBees, Insects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details

A plant of the subtropics and tropics, where it is found at elevations up to about 300 metres.
Species in this genus generaly require a sunny position in a well-drained soil[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
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 pulpy flesh surrounding the seeds has a sweet flavour[
491
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 57
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1976
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical magazine, this issue has a comprehensive treatment of the genus Prosopis as well as several other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
]. The report does not specifically say that the pulp is edible, but this is very likely to be the case, especially since several other closely related members of the genus also have edible flesh inside the seedpods[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
]. The seedpod is 6 - 24cm long by 6 - 12mm wide and 5 - 8mm thick[
491
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 57
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1976
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical magazine, this issue has a comprehensive treatment of the genus Prosopis as well as several other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Medicinal

None known

Other Uses

The heartwood is light brown, pink; the narrow band of sapwood is yellow and less than 2cm wide. The texture is fine to medium, there is no characteristic smell or taste.
We have no further specific information for this species, but the wood of most members of this genus is widely used locally for fence posts, fuel etc[
491
Title
Journal of the Arnold Arboretum Vol. 57
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Harvard University
Year
1976
ISBN
 
Description
A botanical magazine, this issue has a comprehensive treatment of the genus Prosopis as well as several other articles. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

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[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].
Cite as: Tropical Plants Database, Ken Fern. tropical.theferns.info. 2024-10-08. <tropical.theferns.info/viewtropical.php?id=Prosopis+vinalillo>

Add a Comment:

If you have any useful information about this plant, please leave a comment. Comments have to be approved before they are shown here.