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Pods and foliage

Screwbean, Screwbean Mesquite, Tornillo, Screwpod Mesquite, Twisted Bean, Fremont Screwbean
Prosopis pubescens

Leguminosae

Screwbean is found along river valleys and irrigation ditches in west Texas. It grows best where there is moisture, or where moisture might accumulate from a flash flood, although it can survive in the desert. It is a multi-trunked large shrub or tree, small and dainty, barely reaching 30 feet in height. It differs from mesquite (P. glandulosa) in that its spines and leaves are smaller, it has 5 to 8 pairs of leaflets instead of 10 or more, its twigs are gray and not red, and its bean is tightly coiled into a spiral (hence its common name) as opposed to mesquite's straight pod.

Plant Habit or Use: large shrub small tree

Exposure: sun

Flower Color: yellowish

Blooming Period: spring summer

Fruit Characteristics: tightly coiled, twisted bean

Height: to 30 ft.

Width: to 35 ft.

Plant Character: deciduous

Heat Tolerance: very high

Water Requirements: low

Soil Requirements: adaptable

USDA Hardiness Zone: 7

Additional Comments:



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