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Desert Willow
A native of the southwest, it is not a true
willow but rather a relative of the trumpet vine.
Every part of the desert willow was utilized by
native peoples. The flowers and seed pods can
be used for food. The leaves have medicinal
qualities and the bark is useful for its fiber in
making cloth and twine.
Fruit Trees
The earliest settlers to Alpine brought fruit trees,
and these foodbearing trees continue to be
planted by residents. Except for occasional late
freezes where crops are destroyed, it is usual to
have an abundance of fruit ripening on trees
around town as summer approaches.
(Top left to right) Plum, Fig. (Bottom left to right)
Mulberry, Apple
.
Southern Magnolia
Not native to the Big Bend region, this tree is
naturally found on the streams and river beds of
East Texas to the Florida coast. This evergreen
is adorned with large lemoncitronella scented
flowers that can measure up to almost a foot
wide. Magnolias are a part of one of the oldest
flowering plant families, Magnoliaceae, which
may have exited on earth for up to 100 million
years. It is believed Earth’s first flowers would
have resembled the Magnolia flower.
Cenizo
Summer 2020
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