important . It is common , produces a large harvest of fruit , and has very small spines compared to other varieties – clusters of small glochids that , while uncomfortable to the unwary , make harvesting and processing the pads much easier .

All above-ground portions of prickly pear are edible , and the jellied insides of the pads were used medicinally as a dressing for wounds and burns .

Pads and joints would be broken off into chunks , rubbed on rocks or in sand to remove the glochids , and boiled . Some native groups would dry them for later use , rehydrating them when necessary .

Each joint on the cactus could produce up to six flowers in spring . Because the plant could grow to a large size in a relatively short amount of time , harvesting flower , fruit and fresh pads yielded high caloric value for low work . The pads are rich in vitamin C . The large seeds inside the fruit , or tuna , were also sometimes ground into flour that could be mixed with water and eaten like porridge .

CREOSOTE

A prodigiously widespread perennial , the creosote bush appears ubiquitously throughout the Southwest . Unfortunately , it isn ’ t especially edible ; its chemical composition would make its consumption in any meaningful quantity unbearable . However , creosote was heavily depended on for medicinal uses . Dried , powdered leaves have an antibacterial effect for cuts and burns . Rheumatism , tuberculosis , constipation , menstrual cramps and venereal diseases were all routinely treated with topical applications or by a tea made from the leaves . to relieve stomach upset .

MESQUITE

Of all the plants that sustained native people in the Trans-Pecos , mesquite was arguably the most important . It was so important that seasonal village sites were often selected for their access to stands of mature trees . In a good rain year , a single mesquite tree can produce

20 pounds of bean pods . These pods , each containing four to six beans on average , were collected by the thousands , dried , and ground into a course flour , pod and all .

After collection , the pods were sometimes stored in communal granaries and used to sustain entire villages through the winter . Mesquite pods are sweet and nutty , with a high proportion of protein and monounsaturated fats .

The flowers , which are tiny and grow in dense , finger-like clusters , were roasted and pressed into balls . A rinse could be made from the pods and was used to treat conjunctivitis , while the sap

was used as a waterproof adhesive . As a rare tree in an often barren desert , the wood was prized for shelter , but its superior density made it valuable for hollowing out a grinding bowl as well .

OCOTILLO

Natives used ocotillo to make living fences by planting individual stalks in a line and hoping for the best . Just when we think there ’ s no hope at all , that one good rain comes along and the whole edifice bursts into leaves . Just like today , these fences are the most effective rabbit deterrent a desert garden can hope for .

The bright red flowers , beloved by Big Benders , were collected and steeped to make a refreshing drink . The seeds could be ground into flour and kept for months . The roots were roasted and ground into a powder , then mixed with water for therapeutic baths . This was said to be particularly effective for swelling , bruising and joint pain .

YUCCA

Yucca is another prolific native plant whose uses are many . Fifteen species can be found in the United States , and all of them provide food , fibers , and even soap . Like quinoa , yucca roots contain saponin , a compound that acts as a detergent when mixed with water . Pounding the roots in a basin of water produces large amounts of suds that can be used to wash clothes , hair and skin .

Yucca fibers are released by soaking the leaves and then pounding them until the soft , green tissues are beaten away . The tough , fibrous matrix that remains is then twisted to form a strong yarn . Shoes , mats , baskets , rope and even mattresses were made from yucca fibers .

Flower stalks , some as heavy as 20 pounds on a single stem , were eaten every spring . Seeds were ground into flour and mixed with water to form a porridge , or dried into cakes for later consumption . Fruits could be boiled or baked , then dried for storage over the winter .

These are just a few examples of native plants that helped the first peoples survive in the Chihuahuan Desert . Though medicinal uses may or may not stand up to the tests of science , nutritional value is well-established for these varieties . Next time you ’ re on a hike or out doing yard work , take a moment to appreciate the bounty of nature , in what only appears to be a barren land .

To learn more about native plants , I highly recommend Southwest Medicinal Plants by John Slattery , and Indian Uses of Desert Plants by James W . Cornett , from which much of this information is gleaned . The rest is local wisdom , apocrypha , and personal experience . �

Cenizo Spring 2024