Prosopis nigra facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Prosopis nigra |
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Prosopis
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nigra
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The Prosopis nigra is a special tree from South America. It's also known as algarrobo negro in Spanish, which means "black carob tree." Spanish settlers gave it this name because it looked a bit like the carob tree they knew from Europe. You might also hear it called "sweet," "purple," or "yellow" carob tree. This tree is part of the legume family, just like peas and beans!
Where it Lives
This amazing tree lives in a large area called the Gran Chaco ecoregion. You can find it mainly in Argentina and Paraguay. It likes places where the wet and dry parts of the Chaco meet.
What it's Like
The Prosopis nigra tree starts to bloom with flowers in September and October. Then, it grows fruit from November to March. It often grows near another tree called vinalillo (Prosopis vinalillo). It also grows under the tall palm trees called Copernicia alba.
Like other trees in its family, Prosopis nigra can handle dry weather very well. But it's also tough enough to survive in flooded areas for a long time! The inside wood, called heartwood, is dark brown and very heavy. Local woodworkers think it's a very good kind of wood. It's also strong against bad weather and has cool stripes.
What it's Used For
The wood from algarrobo negro is used to make many things. People use it to build strong furniture and barrels.
The wood also has a lot of tannin. This natural stuff has been used since colonial times to help make leather from animal skins.
The fruit of the tree is called an algarroba. It's a sweet pod that opens up when it's ready. Inside, there's a sweet, starchy paste. People grind this paste to make flour. They also ferment it to make an alcoholic drink.
See also
In Spanish: Algarrobo negro para niños
