Description:
Once little known outside the region, the mesquite is the iconic tree of the southwestern United States. Thanks to the rising popularity of mesquite charcoal, the tree--or at least its scent--has become known around the world. In recent years, too, the mesquite has been introduced into alien environments, sometimes as an effective means of combating desertification, but sometimes with the loss of native vegetation in competition against the ever thirsty tree. Ken Rogers, an ecologist with the Texas Forest Service, offers a handy almanac of all matters related to Prosopis, a genus that probably originated not in the Southwest but on the plains of Argentina, where 34 of the known 44 species of the tree are found. His text, supported by photographs and range maps, provides notes on the mesquite's life history, distribution, and economic importance worldwide. That importance, Rogers believes, will increase, thanks to the mesquite's ability to grow on marginal arid lands and to provide a range of wood products (including highly durable furniture, timber, and flooring), fodder for livestock, and easily renewable organic matter for fuel and chemical processes. Rogers's book makes a useful and appreciative reference, providing answers to any mesquite-related question a reader is likely to have. --Gregory McNamee
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