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