A deciduous tree characterized by a large top and a thick, short trunk, ñandubay (Prosopis affinis), meaning a fruit that the ñandu bird (Rhea americana) cuts to eat in the Guarani language, bears legume-like, sickle-shaped fruits that are highly nutritious and contain edible seeds with a high tannin content.
Typically harvested during midsummer, this drought-tolerant tree grows in several South American countries including Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, and Brazil, where people use the tree for its timber, for making fence posts, and as animal feed. A type of flour produced by roasting and milling the tree’s seeds is commonly consumed as an infusion, and it’s believed to possess soothing and digestive properties.
In Hawaii, the tree is typically grown for honey production purposes, and that honey is often combined with the plant’s leaves as a remedy for healing scars. Suitable for reforestation purposes, this tree (also known as algarrobillo) has long represented an essential source of nutrition for numerous communities in Argentina.
Despite its protected status in certain forests, the tree is still currently at risk of becoming extinct due to habitat loss.
