Velvet mesquite (Prosopis velutina Woot.) is a common tree in semi-arid, southwestern U.S. savanna ecosystems. While there are studies that examine some of the physiological and ecological aspects of this tree (response to fire, net ecosystem exchange, encroachment into grasslands, yearly growth through dendrometer bands, etc…), the wood anatomical features of a growth ring, suitability for dendrochronological research, life history, and above-ground productivity through time are knowledge gaps that can be filled.
