Join Charles for a Sierra Vista-Tombstone Area Edible and Medicinal Plant Walk
When: Sunday, April 17th, 9am to 12noon.
Where: Along the San Pedro River.
Meet-up point: 9am, meet up in an accessible dirt parking lot along the San Pedro River.
Additional: As one of the main intermittent rivers of southeastern Arizona, the San Pedro (its banks and bottomlands) abundantly hosts an array of utilitarian plant life. Having both analgesic (bark) and antimicrobial (leaf bud) properties, the regional Cottonwood species is here. Western mugwort, a close associate of Sagebrush and Wormwood, is renewing its vegetation. A fine time for its application, it has anti-parasitic and liver antioxidant applications. Of course no area walk-about would be complete without mentioning Chaparral (aka Creosote bush). A dominant long-lived perennial, in some circles, its medicinal application borders on panacea. However, with the use of critical thinking (and research application) we can clarify and refine the good (therapeutic) from the bad (toxic).
The internally poisonous plants, Wild tobacco and Datura are present. However, when used topically they are medicinal: antiinflammatory and pain-reducing. We may even encounter sprouting Nettlespurge, a chemically complex plant of the Spurge family. Its tuberous roots are somewhat cyanogenic, tending to be tortuous to the gut (and other areas) if ingested.
Not to forget the edibles, Mexican elder grows occasionally along the banks of the San Pedro. Various parts have medicinal properties; however, its blue-black fruit make a tasty dried item. Two Hackberry species are here – the bush and tree. The more palatable (berries) of the two (Celtis pallida) is beginning its cycle of leaf-flower renewal. Last but not least, Pale wolfberry and Little leaf sumac, dot the flats above the waterway. Both are red when ripe, but their taste-tones greatly diverge. Wolfberry’s mild tomato-like sweetness is no match for Sumac’s lemon-like burst.
All in all I’ll discuss or touch on 20-30 species.
Mini Book Signing: After we finish, I’ll have a book signing at the vehicles for anyone who wants to purchase a book (or bring your own copy for me to sign). I’ll have these titles available to sign/purchase:
- Medicinal Plants of Western Mountain States (covers high elevation SW/Western plants)
- Medicinal Plants of the American Southwest (covers low elevation SW plants)
- Wild Edible Plants of Arizona
- Sonoran Desert Food Plants