Mesquite

A tropical plant. It can grow in forest, savannah and Sahel in West Africa. It grows in areas with an annual rainfall between 400-1,200 mm. It grows between 720-1,220 m above sea level. It can grow in arid places.

Also known as:

Bal-tencali, Buiengue, Bussagan, Cachem-cachao, Culengo, Culim-o, Djandjam-o, Djeiha, Djendon, Gbaaye, Karbon, Keseg-keseg, Ogea, Pau-carvao, Po-carvao, Po-de-carbom, Po-di-carvom, Quessem-quessem, Tchalem-ai, Tchela-tche-lengage, Tchela, Tchelangadje, Tchelem, Teacali-mand, Tentera

Synonyms

Coulteria africana Guillemin & Perrottet

Prosopis oblonga Benth.

Prosopis lanceolata Benth.

Edible Portion

Seeds, Pods, Fruit, Vegetable

Where does Mesquite grow?

Found in: Africa, Benin, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Central Africa, Central African Republic, CAR, Chad, Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, East Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, North Africa, Sahel, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, West Africa

Notes: There are about 44 Prosopis species. Also as Mimosaceae.

Status: It is sold in local markets.

Growing Mesquite

Cultivation: Plants are grown from seeds. Seeds are best when treated with hot water to allow them to germinate. The seedlings can be transplanted after 14-18 weeks.

Edible Uses: The seeds are used to make a vegetable butter used in flavouring. They are fermented. They are also used in chutneys and relishes. The young pods are eaten.

Production: It flowers shortly after the rainy season.

Nutrition Info

per 100g edible portion

Edible Part	Energy (kcal)	Protein (g)	Iron (mg)	Vitamin A (ug)	Vitamin c (mg)	Zinc (mg)	% Water
Seeds dried	347	15.4	-	-	-	-	4.2

References

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Atato, A., et al, 2010, Diversity of Edible Wild Fruit Tree Species of Togo. Global Science Books.

Ballal, M. E., et al, 2014, Ethno-botany of Natural Forests of Nuba Mountains, South Kordofan State, Sudan. Journal of Forest Poducts & Industries. 3(1):13-19

Bonou, A., et al, 2013, Valeur economique des Produits Forestiers Non Ligneux (PFNL) au Benin. Editions Universitaires Europeennes p 92

Burkill, H. M., 1985, The useful plants of west tropical Africa, Vol. 3. Kew.

Busson, 1965,

Chapman, J. D. & Chapman, H. M., 2001, The Forest Flora of Taraba and Andamawa States, Nigeria. WWF & University of Canterbury. p 184

H. G. A. Engler & K. A. E. Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 3(3):119. 1892

Ezeagu, I. E. et al, 2002, Seed protein and nitrogen-to-protein conversion factors for some uncultivated tropical plant seeds. Food Chemistry 78:105-109

Gallagher, D. E., 2010, Farming beyond the escarpment: Society, Environment, and Mobility in Precolonial Southeastern Burkina Faso. PhD University of Michigan.

Grubben, G. J. H. and Denton, O. A. (eds), 2004, Plant Resources of Tropical Africa 2. Vegetables. PROTA, Wageningen, Netherlands. p 564

Jardin, C., 1970, List of Foods Used In Africa, FAO Nutrition Information Document Series No 2.p 28

Maydell, H. von, 1990, Trees and shrubs of the Sahel: their characteristics and uses. Margraf. p 353

Menninger, E.A., 1977, Edible Nuts of the World. Horticultural Books. Florida p 99

N'Danikou, S. et al, 2010, Eliciting Local Values of Wild Edible Plants in Southern Bénin to Identify Priority Species for Conservation. Economic Botany, 20(10), 2011, pp. 1–15.

Peters, C. R., O'Brien, E. M., and Drummond, R.B., 1992, Edible Wild plants of Sub-saharan Africa. Kew. p 130

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew (1999). Survey of Economic Plants for Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (SEPASAL) database. Published on the Internet; http://www.rbgkew.org.uk/ceb/sepasal/internet [Accessed 28th April 2011]

Terra, G.J.A., 1973, Tropical Vegetables. Communication 54e Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, p 68

Vivien, J., & Faure, J.J., 1996, Fruitiers Sauvages d'Afrique. Especes du Cameroun. CTA p 207