Black Locust
No. in Woodland Park: 2
No. in good health: 2
No. in fair health: 0
No. in poor health: 0
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 40 inches (100 cm). 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.
