Edible and Useful Plants of the Southwest: Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona

by Delena Tull

University of Texas Press, 2013
Paper: 978-0-292-74827-9 | eISBN: 978-0-292-75412-6
Library of Congress Classification QK98.5.U6T85 2013
Dewey Decimal Classification 581.632

ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | TOC

ABOUT THIS BOOK

All around us there are wild plants useful for food, medicine, and clothing, but most of us don’t know how to identify or use them. Delena Tull amply supplies that knowledge in this book, which she has now expanded to more thoroughly address plants found in New Mexico and Arizona, as well as Texas.

Extensively illustrated with black-and-white drawings and color photos, this book includes the following special features:

Recipes for foods made from edible wild plants

Wild teas and spices

Wild plant dyes, with instructions for preparing the plants and dying wool, cotton, and other materials

Instructions for preparing fibers for use in making baskets, textiles, and paper

Information on wild plants used for making rubber, wax, oil, and soap

Information on medicinal uses of plants

Details on hay fever plants and plants that cause rashes

Instructions for distinguishing edible from poisonous berries

Detailed information on poisonous plants, including poison ivy, oak, and sumac, as well as herbal treatments for their rashes

TABLE OF CONTENTS

List of Photographs
List of Illustrations
Preface to the Revised Edition
Acknowledgments
Introduction
- What's in This Book
- Vegetation Regions
- Why Use Botanical Terminology?
1. Edible and Useful Wild Plants of the Southwest
- Cautions and Notes on Using Wild Edibles
  - Why Bother with Wild Foods?
  - Native Plants for Agriculture
  - Grazing from the Wild: Tips and Precautions
- Edible and Useful Wild Plants by Family, Including Recipes
  - Alismataceae—Water-plantain Family
    - Arrowhead—Sagittaria Species
  - Amaranthaceae—Amaranth Family
    - Amaranth—Amaranthus Species
    - Lamb's-quarters—Chenopodium Species
    - Orach, Four-wing Saltbush—Atriplex Species
    - Tumbleweed—Salsola Species
  - Amaryllidaceae—Amaryllis Family
    - Onion, Garlic, Chives—Allium Species
  - Anacardiaceae—Sumac Family
    - Sumac—Rhus Species
  - Asparagaceae—Asparagus Family
    - Agave, Lechuguilla, Mescal—Agave Species
    - Beargrass—Nolina Species
    - Blue Camass—Camassia scilloides
    - Sotol—Dasylirion Species
    - Yucca—Yucca Species
  - Asteraceae—Composite Family, Sunflower Family
    - Chicory—Cichorium intybus
    - Dandelion—Taraxacum officinale
    - Goldenrod—Solidago odora
    - Lettuce—Lactuca Species
    - Ragweed—Ambrosia trifida
    - Sow Thistle—Sonchus Species
    - Sunflower—Helianthus Species
    - Maximilian Sunflower—Helianthus maximiliani
    - Thistle—Cirsium Species
  - Bixaceae—Lipsticktree Family
    - Yellow Show, Saiya—Amoreuxia Species
  - Boraginaceae—Borage Family
    - Sandfood—Pholisma Species
  - Cactaceae—Cactus Family
    - Cholla—Cylindropuntia Species
    - Tasajillo—Cylindropuntia leptocaulis
    - Prickly Pear—Opuntia Species
    - Saguaro Cactus—Carnegiea gigantea
    - Strawberry Cactus—Echinocereus stramineus, Echinocereus enneacanthus
  - Caryophyllaceae—Pink Family
    - Chickweed—Stellaria media
  - Cleomaceae—Caper Family
    - Bee Plant—Cleome Species
    - Clammyweed—Polanisia dodecandra
  - Commelinaceae—Spiderwort Family
    - Dayflower—Commelina Species
    - Spiderwort—Tradescantia Species
  - Crassulaceae—Orpine Family
    - Sedum, Stonecrop—Sedum Species
  - Cucurbitaceae—Gourd Family
    - Buffalo Gourd—Cucurbita foetidissima
  - Cyperaceae—Sedge Family
    - Nut-grass—Cyperus Species
  - Euphorbiaceae—Spurge Family
    - Bull Nettle—Cnidoscolus texanus
    - Cassava—Manihot Species
    - Noseburn—Tragia Species
  - Fabaceae—Legume Family
    - Acacia, Huisache, Catclaw—Acacia Species
    - Alfalfa—Medicago sativa
    - Black Locust—Robinia pseudoacacia
    - Desert Ironwood—Olneya tesota
    - Groundnut—Apios americana
    - Hog Peanut—Amphicarpaea bracteata
    - Honey Locust—Gleditsia triacanthos
    - Indian Breadroot, Scurf Pea—Pediomelum Species
    - Kudzu—Pueraria Species
    - Mesquite, Tornillo—Prosopis Species
    - Redbud—Cercis canadensis
    - Retama—Parkinsonia aculeata
    - Tepary Bean—Phaseolus acutifolius
  - Fagaceae—Beech Family
    - Oak—Quercus Species
  - Fouquieriaceae—Ocotillo Family
    - Ocotillo—Fouquieria splendens
  - Juglandaceae—Walnut Family
    - Hickory—Carya Species
    - Pecan—Carya illinoinensis
    - Walnut—Juglans Species
  - Lamiaceae—Mint Family
    - Henbit—Lamium amplexicaule
  - Liliaceae—Lily Family
    - Lily—Lilium Species
    - Golden Mariposa Lily, Sego Lily—Calochortus Species
    - Spanish Bayonet—Hesperoyucca whipplei
  - Loasaceae—Eveningstar Family
    - Blazing Star—Mentzelia Species
  - Malvaceae—Mallow Family
    - Turk's Cap—Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii
  - Martyniaceae—Unicorn Plant Family
    - Devil's Claw—Proboscidea Species
  - Nelumbonaceae—Lotus Family
    - Lotus—Nelumbo lutea
  - Nymphaeaceae—Water-lily Family
    - Spatterdock—Nuphar lutea
    - Water-lily—Nymphaea odorata
  - Onagraceae—Evening Primrose Family
    - Showy Evening Primrose—Oenothera speciosa
  - Orobanchaceae—Broom-rape Family
    - Broom-rape—Orobanche Species
  - Oxalidaceae—Wood Sorrel Family
    - Wood Sorrel—Oxalis Species
  - Pinaceae—Pine Family
    - Piñon—Pinus Species
  - Plantaginaceae—Plantain Family
    - Plantain—Plantago Species
  - Poaceae—Grass Family
    - Carrizo—Arundo donax
    - Giant Cane—Arundinaria gigantea
    - Reed—Phragmites australis
  - Polygonaceae—Knotweed Family
    - Dock, Canaigre—Rumex Species
  - Pontederiaceae—Pickerelweed Family
    - Pickerelweed—Pontederia cordata
    - Water Hyacinth—Eichhornia crassipes
  - Portulacaceae—Purslane Family
    - Purslane—Portulaca Species
  - Rubiaceae—Madder Family
    - Bedstraw—Galium aparine
  - Smilacaceae—Greenbriar Family
    - Greenbriar—Smilax bona-nox
  - Typhaceae—Cattail Family
    - Cattail—Typha Species
  - Urticaceae—Nettle Family
    - Pellitory—Parietaria Species
    - Stinging Nettle—Urtica Species
  - Violaceae—Violet Family
    - Violet—Viola Species
  - Xanthorrhoeaceae—Grass Tree Family
    - Day Lily—Hemerocallis fulva
2. Plants as Medicine
3. Teas and Spices
- Teas
  - Alfalfa—Medicago sativa—Fabaceae
  - Basswood—Tilia Species—Malvaceae
  - Bee Balm—Monarda Species—Lamiaceae
  - Bee Brush—Aloysia gratissima—Verbenaceae
  - Blackberry, Dewberry—Rubus Species—Rosaceae
  - Catnip—Nepeta cataria—Lamiaceae
  - Clover—Trifolium Species—Fabaceae
  - Goldenrod—Solidago odora—Asteraceae
  - Greenthread—Thelesperma Species—Asteraceae
  - Horehound—Marrubium vulgare—Lamiaceae
  - Limoncillo—Pectis Species—Asteraceae
  - Limoncillo—Hedeoma Species—Lamiaceae
  - Mormon Tea—Ephedra antisyphilitica—Ephedraceae
  - Mullein—Verbascum thapsus—Scrophulariaceae
  - Peppermint—Mentha piperita—Lamiaceae
  - Persimmon—Diospyros virginiana—Ebenaceae
  - Prairie Tea—Croton monanthogynus—Euphorbiaceae
  - Redroot—Ceanothus americanus—Rhamnaceae
  - Rose—Rosa Species—Rosaceae
  - Sage—Salvia Species—Lamiaceae
  - Sassafras—Sassafras albidum—Lauraceae
  - Spearmint—Mentha spicata—Lamiaceae
  - Strawberry—Fragaria Species—Rosaceae
  - Yarrow—Achillea millefolium—Asteraceae
  - Yaupon—Ilex vomitoria—Aquifoliaceae
- Spices
  - Chile Pequín—Capsicum annuum—Solanaceae
  - Epazote—Chenopodium ambrosioides—Amaranthaceae
  - Juniper, Cedar—Juniperus Species—Cupressaceae
  - Knotweed—Polygonum aviculare—Polygonaceae
  - Mintweed—Lippia graveolens—Verbenaceae
  - Mustard—Brassica Species—Brassicaceae
  - Onion, Garlic—Allium Species—Amaryllidaceae
  - Peppergrass—Lepidium Species—Brassicaceae
  - Red Bay—Persea borbonia—Lauraceae
  - Shepherd's Purse—Capsella bursa-pastoris—Brassicaceae
  - Spicebush—Lindera benzoin—Lauraceae
  - Sweet Bay—Magnolia virginiana—Magnoliaceae
  - Watercress—Nasturtium officinale—Brassicaceae
  - Wax Myrtle—Myrica cerifera—Myricaceae
  - Wormwood—Artemisia ludoviciana—Asteraceae
4. Edible and Poisonous Berries and Other Fleshy Fruits
- Key to Southwestern Plants with Edible or Poisonous Fruits
- Poisonous Fruit
  - Blue, Purple, or Black Fruit: Toxic
    - Cherry—Prunus Species—Rosaceae
    - Coyotillo—Karwinskia humboldtiana—Rhamnaceae
    - Eve's Necklace—Styphnolobium affine—Fabaceae
    - Juniper, Cedar—Juniperus Species—Cupressaceae
    - Lantana—Lantana Species—Verbenaceae
    - Ligustrum—Ligustrum Species—Oleaceae
    - Nightshade—Solanum americanum—Solanaceae
    - Poke—Phytolacca americana—Phytolaccaceae
    - Virginia Creeper—Parthenocissus quinquefolia—Vitaceae
  - Red Fruit: Toxic
    - Coralito—Rivina humilis—Phytolaccaceae
    - Holly, Yaupon—Ilex Species—Aquifoliaceae
    - Jerusalem-cherry—Solanum pseudocapsicum—Solanaceae
    - Snailseed—Cocculus carolinus—Menispermaceae
    - Wahoo—Euonymus Species—Celastraceae
  - Yellow, Cream, or White Fruit: Toxic
    - Chinaberry—Melia azederach—Meliaceae
    - Mistletoe—Phoradendron Species—Santalaceae
    - Nightshade, Silverleaf Nightshade—Solanum elaeagnifolium—Solanaceae
    - Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac—Toxicodendron Species—Anacardiaceae
    - Soapberry—Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii—Sapindaceae
    - Tallow Tree—Triadica sebifera—Euphorbiaceae
  - Fruits with Unknown Toxicity: Avoid Eating Them
    - American Beauty-berry—Callicarpa americana—Lamiaceae
    - Ampelopsis, Heartleaf—Ampelopsis cordata—Vitaceae
    - Carolina Buckthorn—Frangula caroliniana—Rhamnaceae
    - Dogwood—Cornus Species—Cornaceae
    - Elbow-bush—Forestiera pubescens—Oleaceae
    - Greenbriar—Smilax Species—Smilacaceae
    - Hercules' Club—Aralia spinosa—Araliaceae
    - Honeysuckle—Lonicera Species—Caprifoliaceae
    - Indian Strawberry—Duchesnea indica—Rosaceae
    - Peppervine—Ampelopsis arborea—Vitaceae
- Edible Fruit
  - Standard Jelly and Jam Recipes
  - Blue, Purple, or Black Fruit: Edible
    - Blackberry, Dewberry—Rubus Species—Rosaceae
    - Blackhaw, Rusty Blackhaw, Withe Rod—Viburnum Species—Adoxaceae
    - Blueberry, Whortleberry, Farkleberry—Vaccinium Species—Ericaceae
    - Brasil—Condalia hookeri—Rhamnaceae
    - Cherry, Black Cherry, Chokecherry—Prunus Species—Rosaceae
    - Coma, Gum Bumelia—Sideroxylon lanuginosum—Sapotaceae
    - Currant—Ribes Species—Grossulariaceae
    - Elderberry—Sambucus nigra subsp. canadensis—Adoxaceae
    - Grape—Vitis Species—Vitaceae
    - Mulberry—Morus Species—Moraceae
    - Palms—Arecaceae
    - California Fan Palm—Washingtonia filifera
    - Sabal Palm, Texas Palmetto—Sabal mexicana
    - Persimmon, Texas Persimmon—Diospyros texana—Ebenaceae
    - Prickly Pear Cactus—Opuntia Species—Cactaceae
    - Serviceberry—Amelanchier Species—Rosaceae
  - Brown Fruit: Edible
    - Pawpaw—Asimina triloba—Annonaceae
  - Green Fruit: Edible
    - Crab Apple—Malus Species—Rosaceae
  - Red, Orange, or Yellow Fruit: Edible
    - Agarita, Barberry—Mahonia Species—Berberidaceae
    - Anacua—Ehretia anacua—Boraginaceae
    - Buffaloberry—Shepherdia argentea—Elaeagnaceae
    - Chile Pequín—Capsicum annuum—Solanaceae
    - Desert Yaupon—Schaefferia cuneifolia—Celastraceae
    - Hackberry—Celtis Species—Cannabaceae
    - Hawthorn—Crataegus Species—Rosaceae
    - Jujube—Ziziphus jujuba—Rhamnaceae
    - Madrone—Arbutus xalapensis—Ericaceae
    - Mayapple—Podophyllum peltatum—Berberidaceae
    - Passionflower—Passiflora incarnata—Passifloraceae
    - Persimmon—Diospyros virginiana—Ebenaceae
    - Plum—Prunus Species—Rosaceae
    - Pyracantha—Pyracantha coccinea—Rosaceae
    - Rose—Rosa Species—Rosaceae
    - Strawberry—Fragaria Species—Rosaceae
    - Sumac—Rhus Species—Anacardiaceae
    - Tomatillo—Physalis Species—Solanaceae
    - Turk's Cap—Malvaviscus arboreus var. drummondii—Malvaceae
    - Wolfberry, Desert-thorn, Matrimony Vine—Lycium Species—Solanaceae
  - White Fruit: Edible
    - White Mulberry—Morus alba—Moraceae
5. Poisonous and Harmful Plants
- First Aid for Toxic Plant Ingestion
- Plant Poisoning: Dispelling Some Myths about Poisonous Plants
- Who Is Affected by Plant Poisonings?
- Livestock Poisoning
- The Toxins in Plants
- Toxic Wild Plants by Family
  - Amaryllidaceae, Iridaceae, Liliaceae—Amaryllis, Iris, and Lily Families
  - Apiaceae—Carrot Family
    - Poison Hemlock—Conium maculatum
    - Water Hemlock—Cicuta maculata
  - Apocynaceae—Dogbane Family
    - Dogbane, Indian Hemp—Apocynum Species
    - Milkweed—Asclepias Species
  - Araceae—Arum Family
  - Asteraceae—Composite Family, Sunflower Family
  - Fabaceae—Legume Family
    - Black Locust—Robinia pseudoacadia
    - Bluebonnet, Lupine—Lupinus Species
    - Coral Bean—Erythrina herbacea
    - Devil's Shoestring—Tephrosia virginiana
    - Locoweed, Milk Vetch—Astragalus Species
    - Mescal Bean—Sophora secundiflora
    - Rattlebush—Sesbania Species
    - Singletary Pea, Sweetpea—Lathyrus Species
    - Wisteria—Wisteria Species
  - Gelsemiaceae—Jessamine Family
    - Jasmine—Gelsemium sempervirens
  - Melanthiaceae
    - Death Camus—Zigadenus Species
  - Phytolaccaceae—Pokeweed Family
    - Coralito—Rivina humilis
    - Poke—Phytolacca americana
  - Rosaceae—Rose Family
  - Sapindaceae—Soapberry Family
    - Buckeye, Horse-chestnut—Aesculus Species
    - Mexican Buckeye—Ungnadia speciosa
  - Solanaceae—Nightshade Family
    - Jerusalem-cherry—Solanum pseudocapsicum
    - Jessamine—Cestrum Species
    - Jimsonweed—Datura Species
    - Nightshade, Silverleaf—Solanum elaeagnifolium
    - Tobacco—Nicotiana Species
- Toxic Ornamental Houseplants and Yard Plants: The Enemy Within
- Poisons in the Garden and the Kitchen
- Rashes, Itches, and Stings
  - Contact Dermatitis
    - Allergic Contact Dermatitis
      - Poison Ivy, Poison Oak, Poison Sumac—Toxicodendron Species
      - Pollen Dermatitis
      - Photodermatitis
    - Irritant Dermatitis
      - Chemical Irritants
      - Mechanical Irritants
      - Stinging Nettles
- Hay Fever Plants—Pollen Allergies
  - Fall
  - Winter
  - Spring and Summer
6. Mushrooms: To Eat or Not to Eat
7. Colorful Dyes with Southwestern Plants
- Vegetable Dyes: A Historical Perspective
- Dyes Today: Synthetic versus Vegetable Dyes
- Fibers for Dyeing
- Factors that Influence Dye Colors
- Pigments from Plants
- Colorfastness
- Water
- Dyeing Techniques
- Plants for Dyes
  - How Much Should I Collect?
  - What Plant Parts Should I Use?
  - Kitchen and Garden Dyes
- Mordants
- Procedures for Dyeing Wool and Other Fibers
  - Equipment
  - Preparing the Plant Material for the Dye Pot
  - Preparing the Wool
  - Dyeing the Wool
    - Simmer Dyeing
    - Solar Dyeing
    - Cold-water Fermentation
  - Final Tips on Dyeing with Plants
- Vegetable Dye Recipes
  - Symbol Key
  - Plant Species Used for Dyes
8. Fibers and Baskets from Southwestern Plants
- Plants for Basketmaking
- Preparation of Plants
- Textile Fibers
  - Extracting Fibers: Retting and Scutching
  - Fibers Attached to Seeds
- Dyeing Plant Fibers
- Papermaking
9. Rubber, Wax, Oil, and Soap: Industrial Resources
Appendix: Fifty Important Plants
Glossary
Bibliography
Index

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