Join Charles for an Oro Valley Edible and Medicinal Plant Walk
When: Saturday, August 12th, 7am-10am
Where: Oro Valley area
Meet-up: At 7am we’ll assemble in the Walmart parking lot (southwest corner, in view of the water tanks, next to Innovation Park Drive).
Additional: When the monsoons arrive, precipitation enlivens the perennials and also germinates the annuals. Think of this time as a second spring of sorts.
We’ll encounter a number of edible and medicinal species which can only be found during the summer (with rains). This is the best time of year to see one of our tastier greens, Amaranth. Annual Devil’s claw, with its edible pod, is pushed into high gear. The Catalina washes host ample amounts of Finger-leaf gourd (edible seeds) and Groundcherry (aka Wild tomatillo). Medicinal perennials like Desert lavender, Beebrush (Desert oregano), and Western mugwort are vegetation-renewed.
A number of desert cacti of the region are well-represented: Saguaro, Barrel, Pincushion, and various Cholla species. Most have established (and tasty!) food uses. A few have lesser-known medicinal uses (Cholla roots).
More than the just the edible cacti, other fruit providers frequent the area. Wolfberry, Mesquite, and Paloverde abound. With the knowledge of how (and when) to gather/process the latter two (the ‘bean tree’ staples), smart plant utilitarians will be able to fall back on these in times of supply-chain disruption.
Chaparral (aka Creosote bush) is a dominant long-lived perennial of the region. 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) and bad (toxic).
Ratany and Sangre de drago with their strong tannin-based astringencies, Ocotillo with its non-polar compounds, and Canyon bursage, with its interesting lactone set, are all here. Each has a unique medicinal influence.
The poisonous plants, Wild tobacco and Datura (two species) are fairing well with new growth.
All in all, I’ll touch on 20-25 edible/medicinal/poisonous plants.
Mini Book Signing: After we finish, I’ll have a book signing at the cars 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 the American Southwest (covers low elevation SW plants)
- Medicinal Plants of Western Mountain States (covers high elevation SW/Western plants)
- Sonoran Desert Food Plants (low elevation wild edibles, Arizona)
- Wild Edible Plants of Arizona (high elevation Arizona)