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Screwbean Mesquite (Strombocarpa pubescens)
Trees Around Las Vegas, Vegetation Around Las Vegas
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite on the landscape

General: Screwbean Mesquite (Strombocarpa pubescens) are medium-sized, spindly, many branched, thorny trees with many straight, stout spines along the stems. They produce bean pods that are tightly twisted (like a screw) and grow in clumps. The young stems, leaves, and fruits are covered with tiny hairs.

Screwbean Mesquite are found in washes and other wet areas in the Lower Sonoran (Creosote-Bursage Flats) and Upper Sonoran (Mojave Desert Scrub) life zones.

Mesquite often are parasitized by Mesquite Mistletoe, which appears as clumps of stems with white or red berries. Phainopepla depend on these berries for food, but they are toxic to humans.

Family: The genus Prosopis (Mesquites) has been broken up into six genera based on molecular and morphological evidence, and all six genera are distinguishable by fruit and spine characters. Prosopis is now restricted to the old-world, and Neltuma and Strombocarpa represent new-world species.

Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
The leaves of Screwbean Mesquite are hairy

Other Names: Formerly Prosopis pubescens.

Plant Form: Medium-sized, spindly, many branching tree.

Height: Usually 10-15 ft.

Trunk: Thick with rough bark.

Leaves: Compound leaves with small leaflets, typical of members of the pea family. The leaves are covered with tiny hairs.

Flowers: Bottlebrush-shaped catkins on a stalk (spikes). Individual flowers are small, creamy or pale yellow, and tubular. Blooms during spring.

Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
The seedpods of Screwbean Mesquite are hairy

Seeds: Small seeds produced in bean pods that are tightly twisted (like a screw). Individual pods are clumped together. The seedpods are covered with tiny hairs.

Distribution: Southern California deserts, southern Nevada, and river drainages in Arizona that connect with the Colorado River. Patchily distributed across Arizona and New Mexico, then throughout the Rio Grande River system.

Elevation:

Comments: These plants indicate the presence of water, but their roots can penetrate 70-80 feet to reach it, so it probably isn't worth digging to find water. Note that a non-native species, Argentine Screwbean Mesquite, often is used in ornamental landscaping.

Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite tree during summer
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite tree during summer
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite tree during winter
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite tree during winter
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite tree during winter
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite tree during winter
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Older Screwbean Mesquite tree with shaggy bark
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Older Screwbean Mesquite tree with shaggy bark
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite tend to have paired, very sharp thorns
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite don't always have paired thorns
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite tend to have paired, very sharp thorns
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite tend to have paired, very sharp thorns
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
The leaves of Screwbean Mesquite are hairy
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
The leaves of Screwbean Mesquite are hairy
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite with developing flower buds
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite developing flower buds
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite with developing flower buds
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Developing flower buds
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite flowers
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite flowers
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite flowers
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite with developing seedpods
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite with developing seedpods
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Developing Screwbean Mesquite seedpods
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Developing Screwbean Mesquite seedpods (note tiny hairs)
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Developing Screwbean Mesquite seedpods (note tiny hairs)
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite ripe seedpods during winter
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite ripe seedpods during winter
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens) Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
The seedpods of Screwbean Mesquite are hairy
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
The seedpods of Screwbean Mesquite are hairy
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite with fresh mistletoe infestation
Screwbean Mesquite (Prosopis pubescens)
Screwbean Mesquite with fresh mistletoe infestation

Note: All distances, elevations, and other facts are approximate. Names generally follow the USDA database.
copyright; Last updated 231203

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