About Prosopis juliflora:
- It is a shrub or small tree in the family Fabaceae, a kind of mesquite.
- It is native to Mexico, South America and the Caribbean.
- It is one of the most invasive species in arid and semi-arid areas.
- It was brought to Delhi by the British in the 1920s, when the national capital was being built.
- In India it is known locally by many names such as Bellary jaali, seemai karuvelam, seemai jaali, gando baval, vilayati kikar.
- It has a very wide ecological adaptability which can grow on soils from sand dune to clay soil, and from saline to alkaline soil type.
- It can grow below 200 to above 1500 m above sea level, and with a mean annual rainfall ranging from 50 to 1500 mm
- It is considered as an Invasive plant.
- It is characterized by vigorous growth which helps them to outcompete indigenous plant species.
Impacts on Environment
- This tree absorbs more than four litres of water to obtain one kilogram of biomass.
- It cannot even shelter birds as it produces less oxygen and more carbon dioxide.
- It can also turn the groundwater poisonous.
- It causes land erosion due to the loss of the grasslands that are habitats for native plants and animals.
