KEYSTONE+ PROJECT - Velvet Mesquite

The velvet mesquite tree has a dense canopy of leaves that not only provide shade in the hot desert, but can also drop temperatures by up to 15°F. In addition to cooling animals, this protects fragile seedlings, including another keystone species, the saguaro cactus. Bacteria in the tree’s root nodules, enrich desert soils. The flowers support over 60 native bee species, moths, and butterflies. The seed pods feed large and small mammals, and migratory birds depend on the mesquite for nesting and foraging.