Mesquite

Mesquite is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. It contains about 40 species of spiny trees and shrubs, mostly native to arid and semi-arid regions of the Americas, Africa, and southwest Asia. They are remarkably hardy plants capable of withstanding severe drought conditions thanks to their exceptionally deep taproots, which can reach deep into the water table. Mesquite wood is extremely dense and hard, highly valued for barbecuing due to the distinctive sweet smoke flavor it produces. The pods are rich in nutrients and have historically been used as a staple food source by indigenous peoples, ground into a sweet flour.