are native to this country, but there is some difference in opinion as 

 to whether the latter, which occurs in southern and western Texas, 

 eastern New Mexico, and Mexico, is native or introduced its home 

 being Jamaica and the West Indies. Screwbean (Strombocarpa odor- 

 ata, svns. 8. pubescent, Prosopis odorata, P. pubescent) is included 

 in this genus by some authors, but current authorities place it in 

 the genus Strombocarpa. All of the mesquites are similar in forage 

 value. The large, sweet, and pulpy pods provide good forage, but 

 the leaves are eaten only slightly except in the absence of better 

 forage. The three aforementioned species supply excellent fence 

 posts and fuel and are useful for many other purposes where a strong, 

 durable wood is desired. 



Velvet mesquite, a multibranched tree sometimes attaining 50 feet 

 in height and 2 feet in diameter, occurs in Arizona, Sonora, and 

 Lower California. It often forms open, savanna woodlands over ex- 

 tensive areas and affords essential shade for livestock on hot, arid 

 ranges. Common mesquite is typical of Jamaica and the West Indies, 

 but has been widely introduced and naturalized in many countries 

 where it is considered a very valuable tree for fuel, railroad ties, 

 cabinetmaking, and many other purposes. Wilcox 5 reports that 

 common mesquite ("algaroba") is the most valuable tree which has 

 been introduced into Hawaii, where it now occurs in extensive forests 

 and is highly valued as a forage, fuel, and honey plant. Some au- 

 thorities classify honey and velvet mesquite as varieties of common 

 mesquite. 



B Wilcox, E. V. THE ALGABOBA IN HAWAII. Hawaii Agr. Expit. Sta. Press Bull. 26, 

 8 pp. 1910. 



