Mesquite Tree - The Desert Queen

The title of flower of the desert sands may belong to the bloom-bearing cactus in some parts of the world, but when it comes to the United States, such label belongs to the mesquite tree.  The term "mesquite tree," however, is a misleading one.  The plant is actually considered as a shrub, though it is big enough to be classified as a small tree.

Nonetheless, it is the most ubiquitous plant in the southwestern territories where the sun is always at its hottest. 

Though nowadays, the mesquite tree (or shrub, if you will) comprises 80% of a desert coyote's diet, such belies the helpful history of the plant.  In the days before the settlement, Native Americans relied on mesquites for their dietary needs.  Its roots were used to make tea.  Syrup was extracted from its leaves to create pinope, a fast meal during those times.  And its thicker woods were used as bases for fire for cooking and to keep them warm during the cold desert nights.

Currently, the mesquite tree is said to have amazing medicinal properties.  Its pods can be grinded and used as supplements from people suffering from diabetes.

There are three basic kinds of mesquite tree.  Let's take a closer look at them.

* Screwbean Mesquite.  Named as such because of its screw-like pods, the Screwbean Mesquite is a medium sized variety of the genus.  It can grow as tall as 20 feet, and its trunk can have a diameter of 8 inches.  It bears its blossoms during the months leading to summer.

* Velvet Mesquite.  The Velvet Mesquite is the largest of the genus, reaching the height of 30 feet in most instances, and having a trunk with a diameter of 2 feet at the average.  It's a tall and stout tree that never fails to capture the attention of desert dwellers and passersby.  The Velvet Mesquite is known for its flowers, a combination of green and yellow, which bloom twice a year, once before summer, and another during the beginning of the hotter months.

* Honey Mesquite.  Though the Honey Mesquite can reach the sizes boasted by the Screwbean Mesquite, this variety is actually considered as the smallest in the family.  It is known for its creamy yellow flowers of exquisite scent.  They bloom only once every year, during May, and they never fail to populate the desert roads with much needed color and class.