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DISCLAIMER: These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Additionally, some of these plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals who have the means to process them properly into appropriate pharmaceuticals. One final note: many plants were used for a wide range of illnesses in the past, but be aware that many of the historical uses have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied.




PALO VERDE
LEGUMINOSAE
(Cercidium floridum syn Cercidium torreyanum syn Parkinsonia torreyanum)
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A decidous, spiny, tree/shrub to 30 feet native to the southwestern United States and northeastern Mexico. BARK is smooth and a blue-green color. LEAVES are long, pale green and pinnate with 2 to 4 pairs of leaflets. FLOWERS to 3/4 inch across are yellow. FRUIT is a glabrous pod to 3 inches long and more than 1/2 inch wide.

Native Americans of Arizona and California ground the beans (seeds) into meal and made it into cakes as well as steeped them for beverages.




©2005 by Ernestina Parziale, CH

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