View crop

Prosopis cineraria

Authority	(L.) Druce
Family	Magnoliopsida:Rosidae:Fabales:Leguminosae
Synonyms
Common names
Editor
Ecocrop code	8947

Notes
BRIEF DESCRIPTION A small, usually deciduous, spiny tree reaching 5-10 m in height, with a crooked trunk to 30 cm in diameter and a thin open crown. USES Wood used for house constuction, posts, tool handles, boat frames, furniture, and firewood and charcoal. The tree is browsed, pods utilized as fodder and forage, and branches cut for forage. Immature protein rich pods are eaten raw or cooked. Mentioned as a possible agroforestry species. GROWING PERIOD Perennial. Life span of 10 to 200 years. Withstands droughts of 8-11 months. COMMON NAMES Jand, Jandi, Ghaf, Shami, Khejri, Khejiri, Khejra, Thand, Kandi. FURTHER INF Scientific synonym: P. spicigera. Photosynthesis pathway C3. Jand can withstand hot winds. Optimum annual firewood yield is 2.9-11.4 m3/ha, and optimum yield of plant and dry leaves is 30-50 kg/plant. The tree is adapted to lowland conditions and can be found at elevations between sea level and 600 m. The latitudinal range of natural occurrence is 10-30°N. It is often found scattered in rocky uplands. Where rainfall is less than 250 mm, it is confirmed to streams. The tree is drought hardy and withstand hot dry winds, it fixes nitrogen and it regenerates rapidly. The trees are thorny, and if planted in subhumid areas they may become pestilential weeds.
Sources
Grassland Index Little E 1983 pp 231-233 [USE, KTMP, TEMP, RAIN, TEXT, PH, SAL, DRA] Webb D 1984 pp 234 [RAIN, TEMP, TEXT, PH, DRA, SAL, LIG, KTMP, USE] Aronson J 1989 pp 64 Goodin J 1990 pp 38 Puri S 1992 pp 46-1 National RC 1980 pp 150 INSPIRE species 151 [RAIN, TEMP, TEXT, PH, DRA, SAL, LIG, USE] Yadav M pers. comm. FAO For. Paper 77 pp 459 Hensleight T 1988 pp 384 [TEMP, RAIN, SAL, PH, USE]