South American mesquite `Laurie`

Abstract

A new and distinct variety of South American Mesquite having the following unique combination of desirable features: 1. Thornless nature. 2. Cold hardy to 10 F. 3. Slower vertical growth, with a greater girth to height ratio, than other South American Mesquites that leads to a tree with less of a tendency to lean with the wind. 4. Yellow pods about 12 cm long containing about 30% sugar which are useful for animal feed. 5. Feathery leaves, commonly containing 4 pair of pinnae. 6. Good resistance to stem fungal pathogens Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Pestalotiopsis guepinii. 7. Complete resistance to cotton root rot, Phymatotrichum omnivorum.

I claim: 
     
       1. A new and distinct variety of South American Mesquite substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by its cold hardiness to -12 C. (10 F.), its lack of spines, its resistance to stem cankers caused by Lasiodiplodia theobromae and Pestalotiopsis guepinii, and its greater girth to height ratio than clone P. alba B2V50 that provides trees with less of a tendency to lean in the wind.