Prosopis sericantha Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.
Fabaceae
Mimosoideae
NOTE: Only two seeds of Prosopis sericantha were available for examination. Therefore, the description and images in this fact sheet may not be representative of this species’ seeds.
mesquite
Pods linear, straight, less often subfalcate, somewhat compressed, (5)7–14 cm long, 8–13 mm wide, 2–5 mm thick. Short-stipitate, apex mucronate, somewhat to distinctly constricted between endocarp segments, margins slightly undulate. Dark-colored, usually with longitudinal-reticulate veins; seed chambers ca. 5–16. Endocarp segments subquadrate, hard, closed, 6–7 mm long, 7–10 mm wide, 1.5–3.5 mm thick; mesocarp thin, pasty, bitter. Seeds oriented longitudinally.
Seeds obovate to broadly elliptic in outline, 4.2–6 mm long, 3.2–4.5 mm wide, 1.7–2.9 mm thick, umbo semi ridge-like, elliptic in cross section. Pleurogram somewhat short-armed, with fine striations radiating out from pleurogram to margins. Lens a dull mound.
Prosopis kuntzei Harms (Pod is similar.)
Argentina, Paraguay
arid areas
Prosopis sericantha is a leafless, spiny shrub, 0.3–2.5 m tall. One- to several-seeded pod segments are the usual disseminule.