Please acknowledge the assistance of Sabás Sánchez in preparing the list. DY. Trees found on the grounds of El Pedregal, Alamos

Transcription

1 Please acknowledge the assistance of Sabás Sánchez in preparing the list. DY Trees found on the grounds of El Pedregal, Alamos Acacia cochliacantha Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd. Chírahui, guinolo, Boatthorned acacia. This is the most common tree on El Pedregal. When land is cleared it is the first tree to sprout up and will grow in pure stands. After a couple of decades, other trees will appear. The large thorns resemble snail shells. The new thorns are reddish, turning to gray with age. Family: Fabaceae Acacia pennatula (Cham. & Schltdl.) Benth. Algarrobo A large example of this sparsely-leaved tree grows near the owners house on El Pedregal. It has rather cylindrical pods, which distinguishes the tree from others. It is of a much more open habit than other acacias. Family: Fabaceae Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. Vinorama, sweet acacia This small tree has intensely aromatic, yellow blossoms the size of marbles. It also sports vicious thorns. It grows readily in overgrazed pastures and cattlemen consider it to be a nuisance. It has numerous medical uses. Family: Fabaceae Agonandra racemosa (DC.) Standl. Palo verde A rather inconspicuous small tree, its leaves present a characteristic droop. The leaves are supposedly a remedy for snake bite when scorched and applied directly to the site of the bite. Family: Opiliaceae Brongniartia alamosana Rydb. Palo piojo The small tree is common at El Pedregal. It flowers in late spring when leafless, producing only a few dark maroon-colored blooms. When it

2 drops its leaves in the fall, the pods remain. On quiet October days the pods suddenly explode, ejecting the seeds in all directions. Family: Fabaceae Bunchosia sonorensis Rose Palo cenizo A small tree with irregularly shaped leaves. Its use is confined to kindling wood. The yellow flowers are fragrant. Family: Malpighiaceae Bursera fagaroides (H.B.K.) Engl. Torote, torote papelío A [common] small spreading tree with smooth, exfoliating yellow-green papery bark. The corollas of the tiny flowers are yellow or greenish-white with tips of the sepals reddish. Family: Burseraceae Bursera laxiflora S.Watson Torote prieto These can grow into large [to 10 m] spreading trees with smooth bark and a dark purplish cast when leafless. The bark is vaguely fragrant. The spreading branches extend almost horizontally. It is in leaf during the summer rainy season and weakly so for a short while following winter rains. The gum is used by natives for treating many ailments and to relieve toothache. Natives carve the wood into utensils and masks. Family: Burseraceae Caesalpinia pulcherrima (L.) DC. Tavachín This is the Mexican bird of paradise. Rightfully considered a shrub, every so often it becomes large enough to be considered a tree. The pods produce seeds that are edible when they are green. The plants do not appear to occur apart from human activity and their origin is unknown. Their immense flowers are difficult to resist by insects and humans alike. Family: Fabaceae

3 Ceiba acuminata (S.Watson) Rose Pochote, kapok tree A large tree in tropical deciduous forest, it ranges well to the north. The bark is usually covered with stout spines that appear more dangerous than they are. The trees produce large, white flowers that produce pendulous fruits that resemble small green footballs. These explode open on drying, producing abundant cotton that was formerly used to stuff pillows and life jackets. The seeds and roots are edible. Family: Bombacaceae Celtis iguanea (Jacq.) Sarg. garabato, garumbollo, cumbro The garabato grows sizeable thorns and often remains a huge, vinelike shrub. Its orange, marble-sized fruits are edible. Guarijíos do not eat them, however. Family: Celtidaceae Celtis reticulata Torr. Cumbro The cumbro grows larger here than in the desert below. It is the same tree found along desert washes in the Sonoran Desert. Family: Celtidaceae Cordia sonorae Rose Palo de asta The name of this common small tree is flagpole tree, because it often grows straight. The wood is hard and excellent for make handles for implements. It was formerly the favorite wood for making clubs, The flowers are a delicate white. Family: Boraginaceae Coursetia glandulosa Gray Samo, causamo Usually shrubby, the samo at times reaches tree size. Although nondescript, it produces sap that is widely acclaimed for its healing properties and marked under the name Goma de Sonora. Family: Fabaceae Chloroleucon mangense (Jacq.) Britton & Rose Palo fierro, palo pinto The trunk of this spreading small tree is distinctively mottled with a variety of colors. The wood is hard, but brittle. The trunk is often hollow and a home for spiny iguanas. The trees often provide comforting shade. Family: Fabaceae Croton flavescens Greenm. Vara prieta

4 A small tree, vara prieta seldom grows taller than three meters. Its bark is recommended for digestive disorders. In the fall the leaves turn reddish. Family: Euphorbiaceae Diospyros sonorae Standl. Guayparín, Sonoran persimmon A handsome tree, common on El Pedregal, its fruits are edible when boiled. The seeds are often ground by natives and made into porridge (atole). Family: Ebenaceae Erythrina flabelliformis Kearney Chilicote, peonía, flor de mayo, coral bean tree Uncommon on El Pedregal, the coral bean tree has brown, somewhat striped bark with an elephant skin texture. In flowers in May when leafless, sending out spearlike flowers of brilliant scarlet. The beans turn bright red in the pods and are considered highly toxic by botanists, but harmless by natives, who often make necklaces from them. The seeds will lie on the ground untouched, suggesting that animals agree with the botanists. The wood is soft and widely used to make solid stools and other items that require an easily-worked wood. Family: Fabaceae Erythroxylon mexicanum H.B.K Mamoa Mamoa is a small tree with roundish, gray-green leaves. It is used for firewood and little else, even though a close relative is the coca-leaf plant of the eastern Andes. Family: Erythroxylaceae Ficus cf insipia Willd. (Perhaps F. trigonata) Chalate This is the great fig tree near the headquarters of El Pedregal. In addition to its munificent shade, the fruits from the tree support a wide variety of animals, including bats, birds, and insects. Its wood is sometimes carved to make salad bowls. Family: Moraceae Guaiacum coulteri A.Gray Guayacán The wood of this small, strong tree is so dense that it sinks in water. The heavy coat of intensely green leaves covers the branches. In April and

5 May the trees become covered with purple flowers. The fruits are scarlet and the size of small beans. Some Mayos report that if one breathes in the smoke, their hair will fall out. The flowers are often boiled into a tea supposedly effective in relieving the paroxysms of asthma. Family: Zygophyllaceae Guazuma ulmifolia Lam. Guásima A medium-sized tree with walnut-like leaves, it is common in the region. The fruits harden into shapes like tiny pine cones. They are often ground to make a coffee substitute. The wood is widely used to make furniture, especially chairs. Family: Sterculiaceae Haematoxylum brasiletto Karst. Brasil This small tree is distinguished by the fluted bark on its trunk. Its branches bear yellow flowers. The wood is generally considered the best firewood in the region, much to the detriment of the plant. The heartwood is red and makes a potent dye. It has a variety of medicinal uses. It is closely related to the tree for which Brazil is named. Family: Fabaceae Havardia mexicana (Rose) Britton & Rose Palo chino Chinos are easily confused with mesquites. Their leafage is more delicate, however, and the lack the intimidating thorns that characterize mesquite. The wood is a rich reddish color, is dense and excellent for furniture and some construction. The bark is widely used to tan hides. In the past chinos have been persecuted for their lumber, but they seem to be holding their own. Pollinators love their flowers. Family: Fabaceae Heliocarpus attenuatus S.Watson Samo, samo baboso The fruits of this small tree with delicate, triangular leaves, resemble small sun gods when they dry out, hence the name of the genus. Strips of the bark make excellent twine, shrinking when they dry out. Family: Tiliaceae Ipomoea arborescens (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) G.Don Palo santo

6 This odd tree is an overgrown morning glory. The trunk is thick to massive at the base, but quickly tapers. The leaves are large and luxuriant. When the tree is leafless in mid-winter the flowers appear as myriad white stars on the landscape. Deer are especially fond of them when they fall to the ground. The gum or sap is thought to be effective at removing decayed teeth. A similar tree at El Pedregal has a more yellowish bark, and is called palo santo amarillo by natives. It may be a separate species. Family: Convolvulaceae Jacquinia macrocarpa Cav. San Juanico A pan-tropical tree, it has a short, thick trunk with small, longish leaves ending in a needle-like point. The flowers are rust-colored and leathery. The fruits are the size of cherries, with hard husk. Natives make a mustard-colored dye from the fruits. The flowers are reportedly made into a tea that strengthens the heart. Family: Theophrastaceae Jatropha cordata (Ortega) Müll. Arg. Papelío, torote papelío A small tree with exfoliating bark, it has soft, succulent wood. The leaves are triangular in shape and shiny dark green. Natives tear off large chunks of the bark and wrap fresh cheese or even honey in it to keep them fresh. Family: Euphorbiaceae Karwinskia humboldtiana (Roem. & Schult.) Zucc. Cacachila This common tree produces small fruits that may be very toxic, producing a state similar to alcohol intoxication. The wood is used for kindling. The greyish, oval leaves have tiny dark lenticels underneath. Family: Rhamnaceae Lonchocarpus hermannii Marco Nesco, Venus tree This small tree is usually unbranched on the lower half but branches diffusely near the top to form a round crown. In the spring at the height of the dry season it produces numerous, sweet-smelling purple blooms. The bark

7 is used widely to brew a tea used for curing mange in dogs and dandruff in humans. Family: Fabaceae Lysiloma divaricatum (Jacq.) J.F.Macbr. Mauto The most common tree throughout much of the Alamos region, it grows to more than ten meters high. It is the basic wood for stoves and fenceposts. Its bark is widely used to tan hides. Family: Fabaceae Mimosa palmeri Rose Chopo Like most mimosas, chopo has mean thorns that grab and tear at those who pass by. It also has the misfortune of being one of the best woods for charcoal and for fenceposts, so it is harvested heavily. Mayos suggest that chewing on the bark strengthens the teeth. Family: Fabaceae Montanoa rosei B.L.Rob. & Greenm. Batayaqui In winter these small trees produce dense clusters of white and yellow flowers that attract hordes of pollinators. Arrows were made from the wood formerly. Now poles of the wood are used for making cages and similar boxes. Family: Asteraceae Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum (Engelm.) Britton & Rose Etcho The dominant columnar cactus of the Alamos area, the etcho reaches 10 m in height and grows south in Mexico nearly to Chiapas. The fruits are covered with hundreds of rather weak, bristly golden spines. The pulp is tasty and was formerly made into wine. The seeds are edible, still used in making tortillas. The lumber from the trunk and lower branches is strong and sturdy. Family: Cactaceae Opuntia thurberi Engelm. Civiri This cholla is usually shrubby, but occasionally grows tall with a thick trunk. The fruits are taken for a variety of ailments, and the green shoots are eaten as a snack food. Family: Cactaceae Piscidia mollis Rose Palo blanco A large palo blanco grows near the entrance to El Pedregal. It

8 resembles an oak tree, with a strong trunk and greyish, round leaves. The wood is soft but durable and is widely used as a base for porch posts. Family: Fabaceae Pisonia capitata (S.Watson) Standl. Garabato, vainoro Sometimes a huge, vinelike shrub, sometimes a tree, this plant bears powerful and potent thorns and is an anathema to cattlemen. It makes a most intimidating fence, slowing even angry bulls. Family: Nyctaginaceae Pithecellobium dulce (Roxb.) Benth. Guamúchil Guamúchiles grow to become large, gnarly trees with the disquieting habit of losing branches, a testimony to the brittleness of their wood. They are found throughout the tropical Western Hemisphere and in India as well, a fact that has given rise to speculation about their origin. Most authorities believe them natives of the West, however. They do not appear in intact tropical deciduous forest, but seem to show up wherever humans are nearby. The pods are corkscrew shaped, red and white, and edible. Some people warn that they produce halitosis in the consumer, but they are sold in markets throughout the tropics. The bark is sometimes used for tanning leather. Family: Fabaceae Prosopis glandulosa Torr. Mesquite The mesquite tree is usually found only in areas with along history of overgrazing. It is common in the region. In addition to its use as firewood, the sap is eaten as a sweet and the pods are an important livestock fodder. Family: Fabaceae Randia echinocarpa Sessé & Moc. ex DC. Papache Usually shrubby, the papache sometimes grows into tree form. Often it grows archlike, several branches from a base. The plants have ling, powerful spines, several inches long. The strange fruits resemble tennis balls with huge spikes emerging from the husk. The pulp is edible, indeed, a favorite of many natives. Others find it difficult to eat more than a mouthful or

9 two. Family: Rubiaceae Sapindus saponaria L. Arbolio, amolillo, soapberry tree While this tree does not grow large at El Pedregal, elsewhere it reaches more than 10 m. in height. It produces a fruit that turns dark at maturity. When ground into a powder and moistened, the fruits produce a tolerably useful soap. Family: Sapindaceae Senna atomaria (L.) Irwin & Barneby Palo zorillo This is a small tree with rather large leaves that are emerald green on top, whitish on the bottom. The name means skunk tree, probably because the leaves, when crushed produce a strong, though not unpleasant odor. Mayos and Yaquis call the tree jupachumi which means skunk s ass. The yellow flowers are aromatic, lighting up the landscape in April and May, when most trees are leafless. The long pods hang down from the branches like so many dead snakes. Family: Fabaceae Sideroxylon tepicense (Standl.) Pennington Tempisque Tempisques grow to nearly 15 m in height and become spreading trees providing excellent shade. They also produce edible fruits that must be boiled before they are eaten or they cause a burning sensation in the mouth. Family: Sapotaceae Stenocereus alamosensis (J.M.Coult.) A.C.Gibson & K.E.Horak Sina Only rarely does this cactus attain columnar or tree form. It is rather uncommon around El Pedregal, but very common in the thornscrub at lower elevations. Its fruits are edible. Family: Cactaceae Stenocereus thurberi (Engelm.) Buxb. Pitaya, organ pipe cactus Extremely common in the thornscrub below Alamos, organ pipes are less common in the tropical deciduous forest. Their fruits are coveted by many and the beauty of the plants make them widely planted. A single plant has taken root in the south wall of the church at La Aduana. The wood from the base is an important source of lumber. Family: Cactaceae

10 Tabebuia impetiginosa (Mart. ex DC.) Standl. Amapa This tree has been of great value to the settlement of Alamos, for its trunks have formed the posts and vigas of hundreds of houses and beams for the mines. The wood resists rot and attacks by insects. The bark has medicinal properties. Most important, in winter, the leafless branches erupt in vast numbers of glorious pink flowers that transform the countryside from drab to lively. Family: Bignoniaceae Trichilia hirta L. Piochita cimarrón, garbanzillo A close relative of the chinaberry tree, the piochita can be identified by its leaf arrangement, which resembles that of a walnut. Family: Meliaceae Vitex mollis H.B.K. Uvulama, igualama A medium-sized tree common at El Pedregal, it produces grapelike fruits that are quite tasty when stewed with a bit of sugar. The lilac-colored flowers are extremely fragrant and attract numerous bees and other pollinators. It is a member of the violet family. Family: Violaceae Ziziphus amole (Sessé & Moc.) M.C.Johnst. Saituna Rather rare at this elevation, the saituna is common in the thornscrub of coastal southern Sonora. It has an edible fruit with a thick seed that White-fronted Parrots seem to relish. Family: Rhamnaceae Trees native to the Alamos area, but found only where planted on El Pedregal. Brahea aculeata (Brandegee) Moore Palma A rather small palm, the leaves of B. aculeate are widely used to make roofs. The palapa at El Predregal is probably a good example. Family: Arecaceae Bursera grandifolia (Schlect.) Engl. Palo mulato Tree 7-10 m high with outer bark coppery red, bluish-green beneath; drought

11 deciduous, in leaf from Jul-Dec. A tea is brewed from the bark and taken for fevers and as a refreshing beverage. It is also used as a tonic to restore vigor. Trees located near habitations often bear scars where large pieces of bark have been harvested, apparently without harm to the tree. Family: Burseraceae Fouquieria macdougalii Nash Jaboncillo, palo pitillo, ocotillo macho The tree ocotillo reaches ten meters in height around Alamos. It has bright reddish blooms, and sheds leaves during droughts. Its bark is rumored to make good soap, hence the name jaboncillo. Family: Fouquieriaceae Hintonia latiflora (Sessé & Moc.) Bullock Copalquín These medium-sized trees are common in southern Sonora. They produce luscious, pendulous lily-like flowers between May and August. The bark is widely regarded as one of the best herbal remedies for a variety of ailments, include intestinal parasites. It is extremely bitter and can produce nausea, an apparently desirable state of affairs for some cures. The bark is dried and marketed throughout Mexico. Parkinsonia aculeata L. Family: Rubiaceae Guacaporo, palo verde Common in the warmer Sonoran Desert, this small tree seems to accompany humans throughout the region. It may not occur in nature in Sonora. It is widely planted in Arizona, and escaped plants may become a nuisance. It is characterized by long, needle-like leaves and stern thorns. Family: Fabaceae Pilosocereus alensis K.Weber Pitahaya barbóna Planted near the entrance to El Pedregal, this handsome, woolly-headed columnar cactus grows wild slightly higher in the Sierra de Alamos. Its tasty fruits bear no spines, so are easily plucked and eaten. Family: Cactaceae Plumeria rubra L. Cascalusúchil The tropical frangipan, these small trees grow in rock outcrops and produce copious snowy white flowers shortly after the onset of las aguas, the

12 summer rains. Family: Apocynaceae Pseudobombax palmeri (S.Watson) Dugand Cuajilote Cuajilotes can be seen around the Arroyo Cuchujaqui to the east of Alamos. Rather large, rangy trees, they produce luxurious and lascivious flowers in the late spring. The blooms appear upright on the branches, offering hundreds of long stamens and abundant nectar to the myriad bats that dart in for nectar. Family: Bombacaceae Psidium sartorianum (Berg.) Nied. Arrellán Arrelanes are uncommon in the forest, but are by no means rare. They prefer rocky slopes and cliffs, making the gathering of their tasty fruits a hazard. Most natives of the region agree that the risk is worth it. Several grow on the slopes of the Sierra de Alamos. Family: Myrtaceae Sebastiania pavoniana (Müll. Arg.) Müll. Arg. Brincador, jumping bean This is the famed jumping bean tree from which the strange seeds are collected. A larva within the seed responds to warmth with increased activity, thus causing their small houses, the beans, to move around. The trees are small, seldom more than four meters in height, with shiny, downward facing triangular leaves. In fall the leaves turn a handsome red, decorating the increasingly leafless forest. Family: Euphorbiaceae Tabebuia chrysantha (Jacq.) G. Nicholson Amapa amarilla A close relative of the amapa, this is a smaller tree that bursts into a cascade of brilliant yellow flowers in March and April. The wood is very strong and durable, and the flowers reveal the presence of the tree, much to its ultimate detriment, leading it to be known as beso de muerte (kiss of death) in much of South America. Family: Bignoniaceae

13 Common names list Algarrobo Amapa amarilla Amapa Amolillo Arbolillo Arrellán Batayaqui Brasil Brincador Cacachila Cascalusúchil Causamo Chalate Chilicote Chírahui Chopo Civiri Copalquin Cuajilote Cumbro Etcho Garabato Garabato Guacaporo Guamúchil Guásima Guayparín Guayacán Guinolo Igualama Jaboncillo Mamoa Mauto Mezquite Nesco Ocotillo macho Palma Palo blanco Palo cenizo Palo chino Palo de asta Palo mulatto Palo piojo Palo pitillo Palo santo Palo verde Palo zorillo Papache Papelío Peonía Piochita Pitaya barbona Pitaya Pochote Saituna Acacia pennatula Tabebuia chrysantha Tabebuia impetiginosa Sapindus saponaria Sapindus saponaria Psidium sartorianum Montanoa rosei Haematoxlyum brasiletto Sebastiania pavoniana Karwinskia humboldtiana Plumeria rubra Coursetia glandulosa Ficus insipida Erythrina flabelliformis Acacia cochliacantha Mimosa palmeri Opuntia thurberi Hintonia latiflora Pseudobombax palmeri Celtis reticulata Pachycereus pecten-aboriginum Celtis iguanea Pisonia capitata Parkinsonia aculeata Pithecellobium dulce Guazuma ulmifolia Diospyros sonorae Guaiacum coulteri Acacia cochliacantha Vitex mollis Fouquieria macdougalii Erythorxylon mexicanum Lysiloma divaricatum Prosopis glandulosa Lonchocarpus hermanii Fouquieria macdougalii Brahea aculeata Piscidia mollis Bunchosia sonorenses Havardia mexicanum Cordia sonorae Bursera grandifolia Brongniartia alamosana Fouquieria macdougalii Ipomoea arborescens Agonandra racemosa Senna atomaria Randia echinocarpa Jatropha cordata Erythrina flabelliforms Trichilia hirta Pilsocereus alensis Stenocereus thurberi Ceiba acuminata Zizyphus amole

14 Samo baboso Samo San Juanico Sina Tavachín Tempisque Torote papelío Torote prieto Torote Uvulama Vainoro Vara prieta Vinorama Heliocarpus attenuatus Coursetia glandulosa Jacquinia macrocarpa Stenocereus alamosensis Caesalpinia pulcherima Sideroxylon tepicense Jatropha cordata Bursera laxiflora Bursera fagaroides Vitex mollis Pisonia capitata Croton flavescens Acacia farnesiana