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Herbal Medicine of the American Southwest New Title - Soon to be Released Medicinal Plant Profiles Photographic Index |
Mesquite
Prosopis velutina (Prosopis juliflora var. velutina) Velvet mesquite
Prosopis pubescens Screwbean mesquite, Tornillo
Prosopis glandulosa var. torreyana (Prosopis juliflora var. torreyana) Western honey mesquite, Algarroba, Chachaca
Prosopis glandulosa (Prosopis juliflora var. glandulosa) Honey mesquite Description Depending on soil and water conditions, Velvet mesquite can be a large shrub, or a small or large tree. Older Velvet mesquites found along bottomlands and riversides have large, multi-branched trunks and can reach 50-60 feet in height. The same tree growing in less hydrated soils, along secondary drainages or on hillsides, are 10-20 feet tall. The older bark is fissured and dark and where the tree has sustained some injury from insects or branch damage a light brown sap weeps from the area. Composing each leaf is 1 or 2 sets of primary leaflets; each contains 9-30 sets of secondary leaflets. They are small and densely pubescent. Velvet mesquite, like most other Mesquites, has paired spines formed at leaf nodes. The spines tend to be more abundant on younger branches. The 2-5 inch long yellow flower spikes are cylindrical in shape. Numerous small flowers compose the spikes. The seedpods are 4-8 inches long, narrow, and tend to gently curve in one direction or another. Like the leaves, the outer pod covering is also pubescent, and is light tan in color when mature.
Screwbean mesquite is a large spiny shrub or small tree. The bark on older trunks is fibrous and stringy. The primary leaflets develop in sets of 1 or 2. Secondary leaflets number 5-9 sets, are small and covered with a dense coating of hairs. The pale gray spines develop from leaf nodes. The cream-colored flower spikes are 1½-2 inches long, and are typical for the genus. Without a doubt, the most characteristic part of the plant is its tightly spiraled, tan seedpods. These natural corkscrews are 1-2½ inches long and encase small tan seeds.
Western honey mesquite, a large shrub or small tree, reaches 20 feet in height. Its pinnate leaves are composed of 1 set of primary leaflets and 8-20 sets of secondary leaflets. They are between ½-1 inch in length and are typically hairless or have hairs only along the leaflet’s margins. The large spines form in pairs at leaf nodes. The cream colored-yellow flower spikes are 2-5 inches long. When mature the seedpods are tan and are 4-10 inches long. Honey mesquite is similar in appearance to Western honey mesquite, although this species’ larger leaves lend it a weeping appearance – a kind of weeping mesquite. It is an attractive small tree.
Distribution From 1,000-4,500 feet Velvet mesquite is found just south of the Mogollon Rim in central Arizona and continues south through the bulk of the state. The tree is found along washes, drainages, rich bottomlands, and increasingly on drier slopes and mesas. Look for Screwbean mesquite from sea level to 3,000 feet along major drainages throughout most of our southwestern deserts. In Arizona, the tree is found along the Colorado, Gila, Bill Williams, and Santa Cruz Rivers. In New Mexico look along the southern expanse of the Rio Grande and continuing in Texas until Devils River. In southern Utah, southern Nevada and southern California the tree is also common along major drainages.
Western honey mesquite grows from sea level to 6,000 feet throughout much of southeastern California, southern Nevada, and in a small segment of Utah’s Washington County. In Arizona look along practically the entire length of the Colorado and Gila Rivers, in isolated pockets in Cochise County, to southwestern New Mexico, particularly along the Rio Grande. It follows this course into Texas and reaches its eastward limit at Corpus Christi. Honey mesquite begins where Western honey mesquite leaves off. From southeastern New Mexico the tree covers much of Texas, southeastern Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and finally to the Shreveport area of Louisiana. It is a tree of Desert Grasslands, plains, and prairies.
Chemistry Condensed and hydrolyzable tannins
Medicinal Uses Like other Pea family plants, namely Acacia and Mimosa, Mesquite leaf powder can be applied to cuts and scrapes to lessen superficial inflammation and astringe minor bleeding. The leaf tea is used to soothe sunburn, rashes, bites, and most other red and weepy conditions. The tea can also be gargled for sore throats and mouth sores.
The liquid or hardened sap, mixed with water and salt is soothing to conjunctivitis. Mixed equally with Prickly poppy tea will increase the solutions antimicrobial activity. Even though the sap has some inherent mucilage, over time, the tannins can prove drying to the eyes, therefore it is best to use for several days at a time, then alternate to Prickly poppy or Desert anemone alone. Mesquite is also a valuable food plant, as described below.
Indications Cuts/scrapes/inflammations (external) Sore throats/mouth sores (gargle) Conjunctivitis (eyewash)
Collection From late spring to early summer, gather the leaves when they are fully mature. On larger trees, during the spring and summer, a pan can be set out, under the tree’s wounds, to catch the weeping sap. Older nodules of hardened sap are also collected; they are found on older and younger trees alike. Gather Mesquite pods from mid to late summer, still on the tree when they are tan and brittle.
Preparations The collected liquid sap is strained and diluted with 5 parts of distilled water; the entire solution is made isotonic by adding salt. See directions under eyewash. By applying low heat, the liquid sap can also be dehydrated for future use. The hardened sap is slowly simmered in 32 parts of distilled water. After it has been completely dissolved strain well through a paper towel. 1 teaspoon of salt is then added. After cooling to room temperature, use as needed.
If not using immediately, store the pods in a refrigerator or freezer, as every bean potentially has a small insect growing inside of it. If there is a sudden occurrence of winged creatures flying around indoors, look to the bucket of Mesquite pods sitting forgotten in the corner – that is their source.
Dosage Leaf infusion, topically or as a gargle: as needed Eyewash: 2-3 times daily for 2-3 days, then rotate to a tannin free solution
Cautions None known.
Other Uses ½-1 pound of dried, mature pods are put into 2-3 gallons of water and boiled. After a time strain this Mesquite pod tea, and simmer down alone. Reduce until a thickened consistency is reached. You now have a tasty, sweet syrup that can be used on pancakes, desserts, and other similar things.
Using an electric or hand grinder, the dried pods are made into a meal or flour. All types of baked goods, cookies, breads, etc. can be made with the meal-flour. |