Neltuma pallida (formerly Prosopis pallida) is a species of mesquite tree.[ It has the common names kiawe ()]
Description
The kiawe is a spreading bush or moderately sized tree, bearing spines, spikes of greenish-yellow , and long Legume filled with small brown . It is a successful invasive species due to its ability to reproduce in two ways: production of large numbers of easily dispersed seeds, and suckering to create thick monotypic stands that shade out nearby competing plants. It survives well in dry environments due to a long taproot which can reach deep watertables. It is so efficient at extracting moisture from soil that it can kill nearby plants by depriving them of water, as well as by shading them out. It can be found in areas where other plants do not grow, such as sandy, dry, degraded slopes, Halophyte soils, Ruderal species, and rocky cliffs.
Human uses
The tree grows quickly and can live for over a millennium. It makes a good shade tree, if one does not mind the nasty thorns of the fallen branches. Its hard wood is a source of long-burning firewood[ The light yellow flowers attract , which produce from them a sought-after white honey.][Slow Food Foundation Ark of Taste. http://www.slowfoodfoundation.com/ark/details/1042/kiawe-honey-from-the-kiawe-tree Kiawe Honey. Retrieved 5 October 2013.]
Hazards to humans
Fallen Kiawe branches usually contain sharp spines that can puncture both feet and tires.
Status as an invasive species in Hawaii
At times the tree was used to replace forest and prevent erosion, and once it was established it generally dominates the habitat. It was introduced to Puerto Rico and Hawaii as well as New South Wales and Queensland in Australia and is now naturalized in those places. The first kiawe was planted in Hawaii in 1828;
Collapse of the Nazca culture
The clearing of kiawe ( huarango) has been suggested as a major reason for the collapse of the Nazca culture in southern Peru at the beginning of the 6th century AD after an El Niño event led to flooding, erosion and desertification.
Importance in the desert ecosystem
Ecologists consider the huarango important to the ecosystem of the desert area west of the Andes in southern Peru, because of its ability to bind moisture and counter erosion. Despite prohibitions by regional authorities, poor villagers continue to harvest the trees to make charcoal. Efforts are under way to reforest the area with huarangos.[Climate Stewards. Peru – Feasibility stage . Retrieved 17 March 2011.]
Genetic variability
In the southwest of Ecuador, Prosopis pallida and Prosopis juliflora both display substantial genetic variability due to the (intraspecific) cross-pollination of their self-incompatible flowers which are typical of the genus Prosopis. As a result, trees of these species display a range of physical traits that lead to trees of one species resembling descriptions of the other, and the two species are often confused. To compound the difficulty in discerning the species of a given tree, these two species hybridise readily where their ranges overlap.
History
The first specimen in Hawaii was planted from a seed brought by missionary Alexis Bachelot from the Palais-Royal Gardens in 1828.
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