Texas Madrone
Also known as the Naked Indian, Lady’s leg,
Texas Arbutus or Madrono, this evergreen is
native to the TransPecos region. In its youth the
Texas Madrone dons a papery, dark brown bark
which as it ages is shed to reveal a smooth and
pale bark which ranges from white to orange,
and apricot to crimson. This tree is typically
found in canyons and rocky slopes between
4,500 and 6,500 feet.
Palo Verde
Also known as Retama, Jerusalem Thorn, and
Tree of Life. Palo Verde means “ green stick” in
Spanish and refers to the tree’s distinctive bark.
The seeds are edible, and its leaves have been
used by Native people for medicinal purposes.
The Palo Verde is native to the Big Bend region,
but is usually found below 4,000 feet.
Osage Orange
This native tree is also known as Bodark,
hedge apple, yellow wood, or bowwood.
The fruit is not edible yet is believed to repel
spiders, though scientific evidence does not
yet substantiate this claim. The wood of the
Osage Orange has been useful to pioneers
and Native peoples. In fact, it is believed its
wood is some of the finest for making
arrows as it’s strong, flexible, and durable.
Its resilient wood has widely been used for
fence posts and furniture making. It is only
distantly related to the orange and is
actually nearer to the mulberry family.
Honey Mesquite
A native droughtresistant tree, the Mesquite
has for thousands of years provided a source of
nutrition for indigenous people in the American
Southwest and Northern Mexico. The sweet
pulp of the seed pod can be dried and ground,
or eaten fresh. Some cultures grind the seeds
into a flour. Mesquite beans reach maturity in
late summer/ early fall, when they can be
collected, dried, and processed.
continued on page 27
Cenizo
Summer 2020
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