Fabaceae FAMILY

Olneya tesota

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

0/5

Safety & Hazards

Sawdust from this wood is reported to irritate the eyes and nose[ 316 Title Tropical Timbers of the World. Ag. Handbook No. 607. Publication Author Chudnoff. Martin. Publisher USDA Forest Service. Wisconsin. Year 1984 ISBN Description Terse details on the properties of the wood of almost 400 species of trees from the Tropics. ].

Botanical Description

Olneya tesota is a spiny, evergreen shrub or small tree with a deep taproot; it can grow 8 - 10 metres tall. The trunk is gnarled, often several are produced as a result of trees being cut back by grazing or coppicing, they can have a diameter that often exceeds 45cm. Trees are more or less evergreen, but can drop their leaves during a drought[ 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. , 1309 Title The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation Publication Author Allen O.N.; Allen E.K. Publisher University of Wisconsin Year 1981 ISBN 0-333-32221-5 Description An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus. , 1542 Title Olneya Beans. A Native Food Product of the Arizona Desert, Worthy of Domestication Publication The Journal of Heredity Vol 10, No 1, January 1919 Author Cook O.F. Publisher Year 1919 ISBN Description A detailed study of Olneya tesota and its possibility as a cultivated food crop ]. The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and source of wood. It has been suggested as a potential food crop for drier regions[ 1542 Title Olneya Beans. A Native Food Product of the Arizona Desert, Worthy of Domestication Publication The Journal of Heredity Vol 10, No 1, January 1919 Author Cook O.F. Publisher Year 1919 ISBN Description A detailed study of Olneya tesota and its possibility as a cultivated food crop ]. A handsome flowering tree, it is also worthy of consideration as an ornamental[ 1309 Title The Leguminosae; A Source Book of Characteristics, Uses and Nodulation Publication Author Allen O.N.; Allen E.K. Publisher University of Wisconsin Year 1981 ISBN 0-333-32221-5 Description An amazing and comprehensive work, giving a brief guide to the many genera of the family Fabaceae and also the principle uses of the genus. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeSouth-western N. America - southeastern California, southern Arizona and northwestern Mexico (Baja Norte, Baja Sur, Sonora).

HabitatDry desert watercourses, sandy and rocky soils of plains, slopes and along dry washes, where storm runoff increases the available moisture, often forming open woodland with other tree species; at elevations up to 900 metres[ 71 Title A California Flora. Publication Author Munz P.A. & Keck D.D. Publisher University of California Press; Los Angeles Year 1959 ISBN - Description An excellent flora but no pictures. Not for the casual reader. , 303 Title World Agroforesty Centre Publication Author Website http://www.worldagroforestry.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An excellent online database of a huge range of trees giving very good information on each plant - its uses, ecology, identity, propagation, pests etc. ].