Syrian mesquite

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Syrian Mesquite

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Prosopis farcta var. glabra
• Acacia persica
• Prosopis stephaniana
• Pleuromenes heterocarpa
• Lagonychium farctum
• Lagonychium stephanianum
• Acacia stephaniana
• Mimosa farcta
• Mimosa agrestis
• Mimosa micrantha
• Acacia heterocarpa
• Mimosa stephaniana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae in the order Fabales, falling into the family Fabaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Prosopis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is widely distributed across several distinct regions in both Africa and Asia. In Northern Africa, its presence is well-documented within the countries of Algeria and Egypt. It can also be found growing across the landscapes of Libya and Tunisia. Moving beyond the African continent, the species extends its range into Central Asia. Specifically, it inhabits the vast territories of Kazakhstan.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Prosopis farcta is characterized by its remarkable adaptability to diverse and often extreme environmental conditions. It thrives across a wide variety of habitats, including desert landscapes, hilly terrains, riparian zones near rivers, saline environments, and coastal areas such as seas and shores. This plant demonstrates significant altitudinal plasticity, occupying an elevational range that extends from a minimum of 400 m AMSL to a maximum of 1200 m AMSL.

Elevational range max:

1200 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

400 m AMSL

Habitat :

desert, hills, rivers, saline places, sea, shores

Life history

The life history of Prosopis farcta is characterized by a perennial lifecycle, allowing the plant to persist through multiple growing seasons within its environment. Regarding its structural classification and growth habit, it is identified as a phanerophyte, specifically categorized under the life forms of phanerophyte and nanophanerophyte, indicating that its regenerative buds are located on aerial shoots well above the soil surface.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Prosopis farcta is characterized by its growth form as a self-supporting shrub, exhibiting a woody structure that provides stability. It is a terrestrial plant, typically found in non-aquatic environments, and functions as an independent organism without parasitic tendencies. In terms of stature, it maintains a relatively low profile, with a maximum plant height reaching approximately 0.5 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Prosopis farcta is characterized by a highly specialized metabolic framework designed to facilitate survival in arid and semi-arid environments. Central to its carbon assimilation process is its photosynthetic pathway, which functions exclusively via the C3 mechanism. This pathway involves the direct fixation of atmospheric carbon dioxide by the enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) within the mesophyll cells to form 3-phosphoglycerate. To mitigate the physiological stresses associated with C3 photosynthesis in high-temperature or water-limited habitats, such as photorespiration and transpiration-driven water loss, the plant employs robust adaptive strategies. These include efficient stomatal regulation to balance gas exchange with water conservation and an extensive root system architecture that optimizes hydraulic conductance and nutrient uptake from deep soil profiles, thereby supporting the metabolic demands of its C3 photosynthetic processes.

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Prosopis farcta is characterized by a specific seasonal flowering period that typically begins in May and concludes in June. The plant produces fruit in the form of a pod, which is a dehiscence type, meaning it splits open at maturity to release its seeds. The seeds produced by this species exhibit significant variation in weight; the average seed mass is approximately 0.228223333 g, with individual seeds ranging from a minimum of 0.05521 g to a maximum of 0.5528 g.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Flowering time :

May

Flowering time :

Jun

Fruit type :

pod

Seed mass max:

0.5528 g

Seed mass mean:

0.228223333 g

Seed mass min:

0.05521 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Prosopis farcta has 2 reported plant parts identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, root.

Leaf

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Root

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Chemicals

Prosopis farcta has 15 reported phytochemicals identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include luteolin, CATECHIN, CD, CHLOROGENIC ACID, CU.

luteolin

1. Cell biochemistry and function
2. Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM
3. Medical science monitor basic research

CATECHIN

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

CD

1. International journal of phytoremediation

CHLOROGENIC ACID

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

CU

1. International journal of phytoremediation

FAT

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Fatty acids

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Flavonoid

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Flavonoids

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Glycosides

1. Cellular and molecular biology (Noisy-le-Grand, France)

Activities

Prosopis farcta has 4 reported activities identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antidiabetic, Apoptotic, Cytotoxic.

Antibacterial

1. Spectrochimica acta. Part A, Molecular and biomolecular spectroscopy

Antidiabetic

1. Pharmacognosy magazine

Apoptotic

1. Molecular biology reports

Cytotoxic

1. Molecular biology reports

Medicinal Uses

Prosopis farcta has 12 reported medicinal uses identified across 2 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include hyperglycemia, Cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes mellitus, asthma, cancers.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations