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You are here >1Up Info > Wildlife, Animals, and Plants > Plant Species > Shrub > Species: Prosopis pubescens | Screwbean Mesquite
 

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VALUE AND USE

SPECIES: Prosopis pubescens | Screwbean Mesquite
WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : Screwbean mesquite is cut for firewood [38]. Mesquite wood is easily sawed and split, is dry and heavy, ignites readily, and produces intense heat [18]. Screwbean mesquite is used locally for fenceposts and tool handles [23]. IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : The sweet-tasting bean pods of screwbean mesquite are high in protein and sugars and are avidly eaten by most livestock [10]. The fruit crop annually provides an abundant and nutritious food source for numerous wild animals. In general, mesquite (Prosopis spp.) seeds and beans form an important part of the diet of mice, kangaroo rats, woodrats, chipmunks, ground squirrels, rabbits, skunks, quail, doves, ravens, the porcupine, racoon, coyote, collared peccary, white-tailed deer, mule deer, wild turkey, and mallard [7,16,17,37]. Small rodents such as woodrats, kangaroo rats, and pocket mice derive a large portion of their diet from mesquite seeds [17]. Screwbean mesquite seeds are regularly eaten by the roadrunner and numerous species of quail [37,38]. Screwbean mesquite browse does not appear to be a particularly important wildlife food. Locally, screwbean mesquite browse is important to mule deer in California [16]. Jackrabbits probably consume large quantities of the leaves and bark, as they do with other mesquites (Prosopis spp.) [40]. PALATABILITY : The sweet, nutrituous seed pods of screwbean mesquite are highly palatable to all classes of livestock and to numerous small and large wildlife species. For both livestock and wildlife, the palatability of the leaves and twigs appears to be relatively low to moderate. NUTRITIONAL VALUE : Mesquite pods are nutritious. The thick and spongy pericarp is high in sugars and the seeds contain large amounts of protein. Nutritional information concerning screwbean mesquite fruit and seed is presented below [3]: % water % protein % fiber % ash % sugar whole pod 5.9 11.0 17.0 3.8 25.0 seeds 7.4 26.0 ---- --- ---- COVER VALUE : Screwbean mesquite tends to form thickets, which presumably provide needed security cover for large wildlife species like desert mule deer. Riparian communities dominated by screwbean mesquite provide important habitat for numerous bird species during both summer and winter [30] and essential nesting cover for numerous bird species [2]. Screwbean mesquite dominated bosques also provide favorable habitat for numerous small mammals such as pocket mice, deer mice, kangaroo rats, and woodrats. Many rodents place their burrows under the protective cover of mesquite shrubs [29]. VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : NO-ENTRY OTHER USES AND VALUES : Screwbean mesquite was an important food item of Southwestern Native Americans. The beans were ground into flour which was used to prepare cakes and breads [4,12]. Various refreshing drinks were made from the sweet pods. Screwbean mesquite also provided fuel, shelter, weapons, tools, dyes and paints, medicines, cosmetics, baskets, furniture, clothing, rope, glue, and many other every day items [4]. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Species: Prosopis pubescens | Screwbean Mesquite

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Information Courtesy: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Fire Effects Information System

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