Prosopis alba facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prosopis alba |
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Prosopis
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alba
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The Prosopis alba is a special tree from South America. People often call it the algarrobo blanco, which means 'white carob tree' in Spanish. It got this name because it looks a bit like the carob trees found in Europe. In the Guaraní language, it's also known as ibopé or igopé.
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Where Does the White Carob Tree Grow?
This tree grows in several South American countries. You can find it in central Argentina, especially in a large area called the Gran Chaco. It also grows in parts of Argentine Mesopotamia. Beyond Argentina, the Prosopis alba lives in Bolivia, Paraguay, and Peru.
What Does the White Carob Tree Look Like?
The Prosopis alba is a medium-sized tree. It usually grows between 5 and 15 meters (about 16 to 49 feet) tall. Its trunk is quite short, and the top part, called the treetop, is round like a ball. This round top can spread out up to 10 meters (about 33 feet) wide! The tree's bark is thin and has a brownish-gray color with streaks.
How Is the White Carob Tree Used?
People use the Prosopis alba tree in many ways. It's often planted along roads to make them look nice or to help block strong winds. The wood from this tree is very strong and heavy. It's used to make things like doors, floors, and furniture. It's also good for making special blocks for paving and even wine casks. This wood is great because it doesn't change its size much, even when the air gets more or less humid. It's also strong enough to be used outdoors.
How Does the White Carob Tree Reproduce?
The Prosopis alba tree has small flowers that are greenish-white or yellowish. These flowers have both male and female parts. The tree uses both wind and insects to help spread its pollen. This process is called cross-pollination. It happens when the female parts of the flower become ready before the male parts.
What Are Its Fruits Like?
The fruits of the Prosopis alba are long seedpods, about 20 centimeters (8 inches) long. Inside, they have brown seeds. These pods contain a sweet, powdery paste. This paste is full of energy and can be used to feed animals. People can also grind it into flour to eat. In the past, people made a traditional sweet drink from the fruit by letting it ferment. The fruit is very sweet, with about half to three-quarters of its weight being sugar.
Can the White Carob Tree Survive Tough Conditions?
This tree is very tough! It can handle dry weather, salty soil, and sandy areas. It's really good at saving water. In fact, it often produces the most fruit during years when there isn't much rain. People have successfully planted it in very dry places. However, it doesn't do well in cold weather and can't stand even a little bit of frost.
Why Is It Sometimes Confusing?
The Prosopis alba and other similar trees, like the algarrobo negro (P. nigra), can sometimes be hard to tell apart. Even experts can get them confused in books about plants. This is partly because different Prosopis trees can easily mix their genes and create hybrid trees.
See also
In Spanish: Algarrobo blanco para niños
