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GENERAL
Origin
:
Mediterranean,
sub-tropical
Vigour
:
slow-growing
Humidity
:
extremely arid,
very arid, semi-
arid, semi-humid,
very humid
Propagation :
sowing and
pricking out,
cuttings
Maintenance :
low
CONDITIONS
Urban climate :
resistant
Dessication :
resistant
Stagnant water :
vulnerable
Irrigation
:
none
Salinity/ppm :
very high (20000
ppm)
Hardiness
:
-6°C
SHAPE
Type
:
shrub
Height
:
0.4 m-2 m
Spread
:
0.6 m-3 m
Foliage
:
deciduous
FLOWER
Colour
:
green, yellow
Size
:
3 cm - 10 cm
Period
:
April - August
FRUIT
Type of fruit :
pod
Fruit size
:
5 cm - 4 cm
Toxicity
:
edible when
processed
This low, perennial shrub, sometimes referred to as Syrian Mesquite and known locally as yanbut,
has a wide range of habitats all over the Middle East through to India on sandy plains, disturbed
ground, fallow fields, borders of springs, and along farm fences and canal banks. Seen throughout
the Arriyadh region, it forms straggly, prostate bushes, primarily on wasteland. The spiny, older
stems become grey, almost white in colour. Multi-branched up to 2 metres high, it has alternate,
compound, bipinnate leaves and small, white glabrous flowers in spikes up to 10 cm long from
April to August. The striking legumes are oval, kidney-shaped, dark-chestnut-like pods, swollen
to 5 cm in length. Sometimes a striking orange, they become almost black, like a lump of char-
coal, when ripe. P. farcta will grow in salty and non-salty habitats on poor and good soils, and
is very drought-tolerant. Propagation is by seed and cuttings. Normally, plants will be browsed
only by goats. Although the Syrian Mesquite has been classified as a noxious weed in some coun-
tries – it is even widespread in Arizona – it has some merit as a native plant in sand stabilisation
schemes and afforestation in the first row. In extensive landscape designs, no maintenance at all
will be necessary.
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Prosopis farcta,
Mimosaceae
Syrian Mesquite,
yanbut