Prosopis pallida
COMMON NAME | Kiawe (in Hawaii) |
TYPE | Tree |
FAMILY | Fabaceae |
NOTES | It is a species of
mesquite tree producing either a spreading bush or moderately sized tree,
bearing spines, spikes of greenish-yellow flowers, and long pods filled with
small brown seeds. It is a successful invasive species due to its ability to
reproduce in two ways: production of large numbers of easily dispersed seeds,
and suckering to create thick monotypic stands that shade out nearby
competing plants. It survives well in dry environments due to a long taproot
which can reach deep watertables. It is so efficient at extracting moisture
from soil that it can kill nearby plants by depriving them of water, as well
as by shading them out. It can be found in areas where other plants do not
grow. The first kiawe was planted in
Hawaii in 1828; today it is a ubiquitous shade tree and invasive weed on the
Hawaiian Islands, but provides firewood for heating and cooking. |
GEOGRAPHIC REGION | S. America - Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador,
Colombia |
NATIVE HABITAT | Dry coastlines,
dominating arid, saline soils |
WEB SOURCES |
