Fast Growing Trees of Arizona

Mesquite Trees: The Most Important 'Trash Tree' in Texas

The Tree of Life: The mesquite is a tree or bush that grows in desert areas throughout the world, areas not suitable for most farming. On 25% of our world species of mesquite can be found growing without any assistance from fertilizers, pesticides, watering or capitalization. This is not unexpected given that the mesquite tree's root system can grow more than 100 feet down searching for water, making it a durable survivor in extreme climates. Like lots of members of the vegetable family, mesquite brings back nitrogen to the soil.

Mesquite types fruit of bean-like pods in the fall that have actually long been a healthy food source to people, wildlife & livestock. Mesquite pods do not open when ripe. The pods of all 3 typical types of mesquite - Honey Mesquite, Screwbean Mesquite & Velour Mesquite - are edible, although the Screwbean is less tasty than the more prevalent Honey Mesquite. A favorite of bees and other bugs, mesquite flowers produce an aromatic honey.

The mesquite is referred to as the tree of life because of its many usages - the Native Americans of the desert regions in Arizona & California used all parts of the tree. Its bark was used for basketry, pottery, fabrics, rope & medication. The trunk & branches were utilized in the manufacture of bows, arrows, mortars & furnishings; since it burns slowly and smokeless, mesquite is a good firewood. Thorns were utilized for tattooing and to make sewing needles. Leaves were utilized for making tea, as an eyewash and for head & stomach aches. The gum was used as a sweet gum, glue for fixing pottery, face paint, pottery paint & hair dye.

But it was the mesquite pod, with its nutritious, bittersweet pulp, that offered the greatest advantage to the desert peoples. Pods were collected in the fall, when they were yellowish-brown in color and still hanging from the tree. They were dried in the sun, then kept in large baskets for future usage. Beans (both pods & seeds) were ground into a coarse meal, then by including water, were changed into a cake without cooking. Some cultures removed the seeds from the pods & ground them into a flour called pinole, from which a bread was baked.

Mesquite as Food: Mesquite meal has a sweet nutty taste. When utilized in baking, it is utilized in combination with other flours - the ratio is normally 1 part of mesquite flour for 2 to 3 of cup grain or rice flour.

All About Mesquite or Devil Trees

As a spice, mesquite meal is terrific for seasoning steaks, pork, chicken & fish. Sprinkle mesquite on meats & vegetables prior to barbecuing; add it your breading for meat & fish. It can be added to veggie stir-fries, scrambled eggs, biscuits, breads, soups, even ice cream. For anybody that consumes an early morning shake or uses a meal replacement drink, attempt adding one tablespoon of mesquite meal. Hunger won't return for 4 to 6 hours. Or utilize mesquite to make a cool summer season beverage or tea!

Summertime Mesquite Drink: Add 2 Tablespoon finely ground mesquite flour to 1 cup cold water. Mesquite Tea: Place 1 lb. Boil pods, at a rolling boil, for 30 minutes.

Mesquite meal is low in both carbs and fat, low-glycemic, high in dietary fiber, and naturally sweet. The amount of nutrition provided by mesquite meal is impressive - it is rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, protein, lysine & zinc. According to medical research studies, mesquite "is incredibly reliable in managing blood sugar levels" in diabetics.

Mesquite as Medicine: The medicinal residential or commercial properties of mesquite have actually long been made use of by numerous native people throughout the southwest United States and northern Mexico. It is most commonly used to treat eye conditions, open wounds and skin-related conditions.

Magic of Mesquite Trees in Arizona

The roots, bark & leaves are dry and cold. They are antifungal, antimicrobial, astringent, antiseptic & antispasmodic. A powder or tea can be made from any of the above products for professional athlete's foot & basic fungal infections. This sanitizing wash or powder can be used for moderate infections, stings, bites, sores & scrapes.

Leaves & pods can be made into an eye wash for inflammations of all kinds including pink eye. Diarrhea, dysentery, stomach ulcers, dyspepsia & most intestinal inflammations are relieved by the leaves, roots & bark. Poulticed, the leaves were used topically for headaches and even for red ant stings! The young shoots, ground & toasted, were used to liquify kidney stones.

The mesquite gum or resin is the most pre-owned component of the mesquite. It is used as a restorative after bouts of dysentery, diarrhea, stomach/intestinal distress, and food poisoning. Mesquite gum is likewise utilized as a treatment for lice, cough, sore throat, mouth sores, laryngitis, fever decrease, uncomfortable teeth & gums.
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