230 



THE BOOK OF FORESTRY 



MESQTTCTE 



The mesquite is the important tree of the arid South- 

 west and its deep root system forty to fifty feet 

 gives rise to the saying that "a man has to dig for his 

 firewood, " as the bulk of the tree is below ground. The 

 wood is heavy and durable; the pods supply food to 

 the Indians and are eaten by cattle and horses. 



MESQUITE 



Prospis juliflora 



FORM 



A tree occasionally 40'-50' high, but 

 usually branching close to ground, 

 may become 6"-10" in diameter. 



LEAVES 



3"-6" long, compound, composed of 

 12-16 leaflets from l"-2" in length, 

 from i"-i" in width. 



FRUIT 



A pod 4"-9" long growing in clusters' 

 flat at first, later becoming ridged 

 owing to tightening of husk in be- 

 tween the 10-20 seeds. 



RANGE 



Southern borders of Colorado and 

 Utah to Western Texas. 



