Common Name:

General Information

Lysiloma watsonii is an evergreen tree (though it can lose its leaves in a prolonged drought) with an airy, open, spreading crown. It can grow up to 6 metres tall, usually with a rather short bole and often with more than one main stem[].
The tree is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of wood.
Lysiloma watsonii has a very wide distribution, large population, is not currently experiencing any major
threats and no significant future threats have been identified. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2019)[].

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern N.America - southern Arizona, northwest Mexico

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Conservation Status	Least Concern
Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Height	0.00 m

Cultivation Details

Lysiloma watsonii is a plant of semi-arid regions in the subtropical zone of northern Mexico and Arizona.
Requires a sunny position in a well-drained soil. Lysiloma species are generally adaptable to a range of soils[].

Edible Uses

Seeds roasted, ground, and made into atole (a traditional Mexican beverage)[, ]

Medicinal

A decoction of the bark is used in the treatment of fevers[].
The bark is chewed as a remedy for ailing teeth, to strengthen the gums and also to 'tighten' loose teeth[, ].

Other Uses

The bark is a source of tannins[].

The wood is hard, very strong and durable. It has been used for making gears and rollers in sugar mills[, ].
We have no further specific information for this species, but a general description of Lysiloma wood is as follows;-
The lustrous brown heartwood has a coppery or purplish tinge, sometimes faintly striped; it is sharply demarcated from the thin layer of white sapwood. The texture is medium; the grain straight to roey; it is without distinctive odour or taste. The heartwood is rated as highly durable. The wood is reported to air-season slowly; kiln-dried boards were prone to surface and end checking. The wood is considered to be easy to work, it finishes smoothly, and takes a high natural polish. It is used for general construction, furniture making, wheel wright work, parquet flooring, interior trim, bobbins and shuttles, veneer, and knife handles[].

Propagation

Seed -