Neltuma

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids I
Ordo: Fabales

Familia: Fabaceae
Subfamilia: Caesalpinioideae
Tribus: Mimoseae
Genus: Neltuma
Species: N. affinis – N. alba – N. alpataco – N. andicola – N. argentina – N. articulata – N. caldenia – N. calderensis – N. calingastana – N. campestris – N. castellanosii – N. chilensis – N. denudans – N. elata – N. fiebrigii – N. flexuosa – N. glandulosa – N. hassleri – N. humilis – N. juliflora – N. kuntzei – N. laevigata – N. limensis – N. mantaroensis – N. mayana – N. mezcalana – N. nigra – N. nuda – N. odorata – N. pallida – N. palmeri – N. peruviana – N. piurensis – N. pugionata – N. purpurea – N. rojasiana – N. rubriflora – N. ruizlealii – N. ruscifolia – N. sericantha – N. tupayachensis – N. velutina – N. yaquiana
Nothospecies: N. × vinalillo
Name

Neltuma Raf., Sylva Tellur. 119. (1838) emend. Hughes et al. 2022.

Type species: Neltuma juliflora (Sw.) Raf. (1838)

Synonyms

Heterotypic
Prosopis sect. Algarobia DC. Prodr. 2: 446. (1825)
Mitostax Raf., Sylva Tellur.: 120. (1838)
Algarobia (DC.) Benth., Pl. Hartw.: 13. (1839)
Prosopis sect. Monilicarpa Ruiz Leal ex Burkart, J. Arnold Arbor. 57(3): 230. (1976)

References

Rafinesque, C.S. 1838. Sylva Telluriana. Mantissa synoptica. New genera and species of trees and shrubs of North America, and other regions of the earth, omitted or mistaken by the botanical authors and compilers, or not properly classified, now reduced by their natural affinities to the proper natural orders and tribes. 184 pp. Printed for the author and publisher, Philadelphia. BHL Reference page.
Hughes C.E., Ringelberg J., Lewis G.P. & Catalano S. 2022. Disintegration of the genus Prosopis L. (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae, mimosoid clade). Phytokeys 205: 147-189. DOI: 10.3897/phytokeys.205.75379 Open access Reference page.
Govaerts, R. et al. 2025. Neltuma in Kew Science Plants of the World Online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2025 Apr. 14. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2025. Neltuma. Published online. Accessed: Apr. 14 2025. Reference page.
Tropicos.org 2025. Neltuma. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 18 Apr. 2025. Reference page.

Neltuma is a genus of flowering plants in the pea family (Fabaceae). It includes 43 species native to the Americas, which were previously placed in genus Prosopis.[2] The species range from the southwestern and central United States through Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean, and South America to southern Argentina and Uruguay.[1] Along with related species in the genus Strombocarpa, some species are known as mesquites.
image of Neltuma alpataco
Neltuma alpataco
Species

43 species are accepted:[1]

Neltuma affinis (Spreng.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma alba (Griseb.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma alpataco (Phil.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma andicola (Burkart) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma argentina (Burkart) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma articulata (S.Watson) Britton & Rose
Neltuma caldenia (Burkart) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma calderensis (A.Galán, E.Linares, J.Montoya & Vicente Orell.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma calingastana (Burkart) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma campestris (Griseb.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma castellanosii (Burkart) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma chilensis (Molina) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma denudans (Benth.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma elata (Burkart) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma fiebrigii (Harms) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma flexuosa (DC.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma glandulosa (Torr.) Britton & Rose
Neltuma hassleri (Harms) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma humilis (Gillies ex Hook.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma juliflora (Sw.) Raf.
Neltuma kuntzei (Harms) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma laevigata (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Britton & Rose
Neltuma limensis (Benth.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma mantaroensis (L.Vásquez, Escurra & Huamán) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma mayana (R.A.Palacios) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma mezcalana (R.A.Palacios) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma nigra (Griseb.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma nuda (Schinini) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma odorata (Torr. & Frém.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma pallida (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma palmeri Britton & Rose
Neltuma peruviana (L.Vásquez, Escurra & Huamán) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma piurensis (L.Vásquez, Escurra & Huamán) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma pugionata (Burkart) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma purpurea (L.Vásquez, Escurra & Huamán) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma rojasiana (Burkart) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma rubriflora (Hassl.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma ruizlealii (Burkart) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma ruscifolia (Griseb.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma sericantha (Gillies ex Hook.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma tupayachensis (L.Vásquez, Escurra & Huamán) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma velutina (Wooton) Britton & Rose
Neltuma × vinalillo (Stuck.) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis
Neltuma yaquiana (R.A.Palacios) C.E.Hughes & G.P.Lewis

Phytochemistry

Neltuma species have been found to contain 5-hydroxytryptamine, apigenin, isorhamnetin-3-diglucoside, l-arabinose, quercetin, tannin, and tryptamine.[3]

Neltuma species known to contain alkaloids

Neltuma alba	Beta-phenethylamine and tryptamine[4]
Neltuma alpataco	"Aerial parts" contain tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.[5]
Neltuma argentina	"Aerial parts" contain tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives. Exudate contains tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.[5]
Neltuma chilensis	"Aerial parts" contain beta-phenethylamine and derivatives plus tryptamine[5][6]
Neltuma glandulosa	Alkaloids in bark and roots,[3] tyramine and N-methyltyramine (a stimulant) in leaves[7]
Neltuma juliflora	5-HTP (plant) and tryptamine (plant).[8]
Neltuma nigra	Harman, eleagnine, and N-acetyltryptamine[9]
Neltuma pugionata	"Aerial parts" contain tryptamine, phenethylamine derivatives.[5]

The tannins present in Neltuma species are of the pyrogallotannin and pyrocatecollic types.[10] The tannins are mainly found in the bark and wood, while their concentration in the pods is low.[11]

Some species, such as N. velutina, produce a gum (mesquite gum).[12]
As an introduced and invasive species
Main articles: Neltuma glandulosa, Neltuma pallida, and Neltuma juliflora

The species Neltuma pallida was introduced to Hawaii in 1828 and now dominates many of the drier coastal parts of the islands, where it is called the kiawe tree and is a prime source of monofloral honey production.[13]

In Australia, invasive Neltuma species are causing severe economic and environmental damage. With their thorns and many low branches, Neltuma shrubs form impenetrable thickets which prevent cattle from accessing watering holes, etc. They also take over pastoral grasslands and suck up scarce water. Neltuma species cause land erosion due to loss of grassland that are habitats for native plants and animals. Neltuma thickets also provide shelter for feral animals such as pigs and cats.[14]
Eradication

Eradicating Neltuma is difficult because the plant's bud regeneration zone can extend down to 6 in (150 mm) below ground level;[15][16] the tree can regenerate from a piece of root left in the soil.[15] Some herbicides are not effective or only partially effective against mesquite. Spray techniques for removal, while effective against short-term regrowth, are expensive, costing more than $70/acre ($170/hectare) in the USA. Removing large trees requires tracked equipment; costs can approach $2,000 per acre. In Australia, several techniques are used to remove Neltuma.[14]
See also

Invasive species in Australia

References

Neltuma Raf. Plants of the World Online. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
Hughes, Colin E.; Ringelberg, Jens; Lewis, G. P.; Catalano, Santiago (August 2022). "Disintegration of the genus Prosopis L. (Leguminosae, Caesalpinioideae, mimosoid clade)". PhytoKeys (205). Pensoft Publishers: 147–189. doi:10.3897/phytokeys.205.75379. PMC 9849005. PMID 36762004.
Medicinal Plants of the Southwest Archived 2007-04-20 at the Wayback Machine
Graziano MN, Ferraro GE, Coussio JD (December 1971). "Alkaloids of Argentine medicinal plants. II. Isolation of tyramine, beta-phenethylamine and tryptamine from Prosopis alba". Lloydia. 34 (4): 453–4. PMID 5173440.
Tapia A, Egly Feresin G, Bustos D, Astudillo L, Theoduloz C, Schmeda-Hirschmann G (July 2000). "Biologically active alkaloids and a free radical scavenger from Prosopis species". J Ethnopharmacol. 71 (1–2): 241–6. doi:10.1016/S0378-8741(00)00171-9. PMID 10904169.
Luis Astudillo; Guillermo Schmeda-Hirschmann; Juan P Herrera; Manuel Cortés (April 2000). "Proximate composition and biological activity of Chilean Prosopis species". J Sci Food Agric. 80 (5): 567–573. Bibcode:2000JSFA...80..567A. doi:10.1002/(SICI)1097-0010(200004)80:5<567::AID-JSFA563>3.0.CO;2-Y. Archived from the original on 2012-12-16.
"Prosopis glandulosa". www.hort.purdue.edu. Retrieved 2008-05-01.
Dr. Duke's Phytochemical and Ethnobotanical Databases
Constantino Manuel Torres; David B. Repke (15 March 2006). Anadenanthera: visionary plant of ancient South America. Psychology Press. pp. 134–. ISBN 978-0-7890-2642-2.
Rocha, R. G. A. (1988). "Prosopis juliflora as a source of food and medicine for rural inhabitants in Rio Grande do Norte". In Habit, M. A.; Saavedra, J. C. (eds.). The Current State of Knowledge on Prosopis juliflora. FAO. pp. 397–403. hdl:20.500.14283/ad317e.
Pasiecznik, N.M.; Felker, P.; Harris, P.J.C.; Harsh, L.N.; Cruz, G.; Tewari, J.C.; Cadoret, K.; Maldonado, L.J. (2001). The Prosopis juliflora—Prosopis pallida Complex: A Monograph (PDF). ISBN 978-0-905343-30-3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-07-09. Retrieved 2016-05-24.
Adikwu, MU; Ezeabasili, SI; Esimone, CO (2001). "Evaluation of the physico-chemical properties of a new polysaccharide gum from Prosopis africana". Bollettino Chimico Farmaceutico. 140 (1): 40–5. PMID 11338777.
Prosopis pallida species info
""Mesquite (Prosopis species)" Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, Canberra" (PDF).
Mesquite Info
The Mesquite