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''Prosopis glandulosa'', commonly known as honey mesquite, is a species of small to medium-sized, thorny shrub〔 or tree in the legume family (Fabaceae). It is native to the Southwestern United States and Mexico, growing as far north as southern Kansas and as far east as the eastern fifth of Texas, where average annual rainfall is in excess of .〔 It can be part of the Mesquite Bosque plant association community. It has been introduced to at least a half-dozen other countries. The IUCN considers it as one of the world's 100 worst invasive species outside its native habitat range.〔 〕 Despite its invasive nature, this tree has an array of features that make it useful: it grows extremely rapidly, has very dense shade, produces a seed pod in abundance that is eaten by animals and humans alike, and it is also readily available firewood. ==Description== Honey mesquite has rounded big and floppy, drooping branches with feathery foliage and straight, paired spines on twigs. This tree normally reaches , but can grow as tall as . It is considered to have a medium growth rate. Honey mesquite coppices due to latent buds underground, making permanent removal difficult. A single-trunked tree that is cut down will soon be replaced by a multi-trunked version. It flowers from March to November, with pale, yellow, elongated spikes and bears straight, yellow seedpods. The seeds are eaten by a variety of animals, such as scaled quail. Other animals, including deer, collared peccaries, coyotes, and jackrabbits, feed on both pods and vegetation. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Prosopis glandulosa」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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