Common Name: Mescal Bean

General Information

Dermatophyllum secundiflora is an evergreen shrub, sometimes becoming a tree, with a narrow crown and upright branches; it can grow up to 10 metres tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a source of materials. Although poisonous, it has also been used as a medicine and hallucinogenic.

Known Hazards

The plant, and especially the seeds, are narcotic and hallucinogenic. The seed contains the poisonous, volatile, liquid alkaloid sophorine, which is chemically identical to cytisine[, ]. It resembles nicotine in its action and is similarly toxic[]. Symptoms of poisoning, which appear within 1 hour, include nausea, violent and bloody vomiting, headaches, vertigo, confusion, fever, excessive thirst, cold sweat, respiritory problems, followed by convulsions and death[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Southern N. America - Texas, New Mexico and Northern Mexico

Habitat

Borders of streams, forming thickets or small groves in low rather moist limestone soils; at elevations up to 1,500 metres[, ].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Tree
Height	10.00 m
Growth Rate	Slow
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Dermatophyllum secundiflora is native to the warm temperate and subtropical regions of southern N. America, usually growing in semi-arid environments. It requires hot summers to fully ripen its wood and is not likely to do well in moister and colder regions of the temperate zone. It seems well-suited for climates such as are found in southern Europe[]. It has succeeded when grown outdoors in southern England and given the added protection of a sunny wall[].
Succeeds in a well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun[]. Succeeds in a hot dry position. Usually found on limestone soils in the wild[].
Plants are rather slow-growing and difficult to transplant[].
A very ornamental plant[].
Plants should be container-grown and planted out whilst young, older plants do not transplant well[].
The flowers have a powerful and delicious fragrance[, ], though some people find them offensive[].
Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[].
This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The seeds are hallucinogenic, narcotic[, , ]. An infusion of the seeds is used[, ], half a seed is enough to produce intoxication[]. An infusion of the ground up seed has also been applied to ears in the treatment of earaches[, ].
The seeds contain the highly poisonous alkaloid cytosine (or sophorine) - this substance is related to nicotine and acts violently in the human system[].
The powdered seed has been used as an additive to weak whiskey or mescal liquor, a small amount making the liquor so potent that over-indulgence brought on dizziness, disorientation and sometimes death[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The flowers are a source of nectar for honey bees[].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the wood[].

The brightly-coloured seeds are often used in making necklaces[, ], and have been used as an item of trade by native N. Americans[].

The heartwood is orange to red; the sapwood yellow. The wood is close-grained, hard, very heavy[]. It is of no commercial importance[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse[]. Pre-soak stored seed for 12 hours in hot (not boiling) water and sow in late winter in a greenhouse[]. Plants often transplant badly[], so prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle into individual pots in the greenhouse, and grow them on until large enough to plant out. In regions near the edge of the plant's hardiness, it might be best to grow the young plants in pots for 2 years under protected conditions. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer of their third year.
Cuttings of young shoots with a heel, mid summer in a frame[].
Air-layering[].