por He huizache (Acacia farnesiana) It is an arboreal species with abundant thorns and aromatic flowers belonging to the Mimosoideae subfamily of the Fabaceae family. Also known as sweet acacia, aroma, bayahonda, white hawthorn, aroma flower, güizache or zubinché, it is a species native to the dry environments of the American tropics.
It is a medium-sized tree of the shrub type, with a uniform and compact crown of bipinnate leaves developed along the branches. Branched and thorny stem, with abundant tiny flowers made up of spherical, compact, yellow and very fragrant inflorescences.
It is a species used for the reforestation of degraded lands, it has useful compounds at an industrial or medicinal level and it is a source of firewood or fuel. In some regions it is considered an invasive plant due to its ability to colonize grasslands and disturbed environments.
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General characteristics
Appearance
The huizache is a bush or tree of low size, branched and thorny, 1-2 meters high with a thickness of about 40 cm on average. Evergreen or subdeciduous in nature, it has a broad, oval crown with a leaf coverage of 3-10 meters in all directions.
Leaves
The alternate and bipinnate leaves have a pair of stipular spines 1-2 cm long, for a total size of 2-8 cm including the petiole. Each leaflet contains 2-8 opposite pairs of primary pinnae and 10-25 opposite pairs of 3-8 cm long secondary pinnae.
Trunk
The stem is short and thin with abundant ramifications that arise from the base of the stem. The upright sometimes spreading or zigzagging branches have rigid spines 5-25 mm long.
The outer bark is flat when young and cracked in adult plants, from brown to lead-grey tones and with numerous lenticels. The inner bark is fibrous and yellowish in color, with a particular taste and smell of garlic.
Flowers
The flowers are made up of a glomerulus or densely grouped inflorescences forming a globose yellow mass. These strongly scented structures emerge singly or in a cluster of 2-3 from the axillary stipules.
fruits
The fruit is a curly, leathery legume, 2-10 cm long, solitary or paired, smooth or slightly diagonally striated. These pods are late dehiscent and remain attached to the tree after ripening.
Seeds
The seed is a smooth, reniform grain 7-8 cm long, brown in color with an open fissure line and arranged in double rows.
taxonomy
– Kingdom: Plantae
– Division: Magnoliophyta
– Class: Magnoliopsida
– Order: Fabales
– Family: Fabaceae
– Subfamily: Mimosoideae
– Tribe: Acacieae
– Gender: Acacia
– Species: Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.
Habitat and distribution
The Acacia farnesiana it is a species native to tropical America, from Peru, Colombia and Brazil to Florida, Louisiana, Texas and California to the southern United States. In Europe it was introduced from Santo Domingo by the Jesuits in the mid-17th century during the Spanish colonial period .
At present it is distributed throughout the tropical and warm zones around the world. Its wide level of distribution is due to natural and anthropogenic factors, even in some regions it is considered an invasive species.
It is a plant that adapts to low fertility soils, poor in organic content, sandy, dry, saline and even alkaline.
It predominates in warm and semi-warm climatic regions, with average annual rainfall of 500-750 mm and a temperature range between 5 and 30 ºC. Indeed, it requires full sun exposure for its optimal development, being also tolerant to drought or low levels of precipitation.
The huizache generally grows on intervened, ruderal, fallow and abandoned land. Likewise, regardless of cultivated areas or pastures, roads, paths, streams or watercourses.
care
Requirements
The huizache is a species that presents a wide range of adaptation in terms of soils, humidity and temperature. It inhabits arid or semi-arid regions and has an extensive root system capable of penetrating to deep groundwater levels.
It adapts to temperature variations between 0 and 48 ºC, low relative humidity and low annual rainfall. It requires full sun exposure to grow, so it establishes itself in open places. It also tolerates strong winds in winter times.
It grows on acid and saline soils, even on sodic and stony soils characteristic of coastal and Mediterranean regions. Indeed, it needs loose, deep and well-drained soils, since it is resistant to drought, but it is susceptible to waterlogging.
This species has a great ability to adapt to various environments and has attractive flowers with a pleasant fragrance. In fact, it usually blooms twice a year, a particular aspect of the species that makes it more appreciated.
seed reproduction
The huizache reproduces by seed, thanks to its wide adaptability to various unfavorable soil conditions. The seeds can be kept dormant for several years until conditions improve and thus generate a new plant.
For its commercial propagation, the ripe fruits are collected from January to April, selecting the dark fruits, free of physical damage or perforations. To achieve their germination, the seeds are placed on a substrate with a high content of organic matter and abundant irrigation, barely covered on the surface.
Germination begins 25-35 days after sowing, obtaining 85-100% germination depending on the quality of the seed. After 8-12 days, the seedlings will be ready to prick out and transplant to their place of growth.
There are various reproduction systems to obtain vigorous and good-sized seedlings. These include plastic bags, containers, paper pots, Jiffy pressed peat discs or bare root cultivation.
Regardless of the selected system, constant watering and protection from direct sunlight must be maintained. As well as management in terms of weed control, organic or chemical fertilization and pest or disease control.
To carry out the plantation at the definitive site, it is essential to prepare the planting area. If the soil is very compact, it is recommended to dig deep and place some stones with sand that allow drainage.
At the time of planting it is convenient to moisten the soil and add an organic fertilizer that allows to have nutritious elements. Also, remove the soil in the final site to avoid contact of the roots with the fertilizer and avoid possible damage.
vegetative reproduction
Huizache can also be propagated vegetatively through cuttings. For this process, pieces of semi-hard wood obtained in the summer season are selected.
With a clean, sharp knife, make a precise cut at the base of the stake. Subsequently, at the place of the cut, it is immersed in a mixture of plant hormones before placing it in a rooting bed.
It is advisable to keep the stakes protected from the sun and covered with a plastic material that maintains a constant temperature of 21 ºC. Once the sprouting of buds has begun, the seedlings are transferred to plastic bags in semi-shade conditions until they are transplanted to the final site.
Driving
Huizache does not require specific maintenance to obtain highly productive plants. However, it is advisable to provide adequate conditions of humidity, fertilization, weeding and pest or disease control.
During the initial phase of growth and development, it is convenient to apply continuous irrigation in order to favor the development of the root system. Likewise, during the summer season water moderately and in spring carry out organic or chemical fertilization.
Maintenance pruning is not necessary unless the plant has received physical damage from high winds. Sanitation pruning is necessary when there is any physiopathy or incidents of pests and diseases.
Applications
Feeding
In some regions the leaves are used as a dressing for salads in the preparation of certain artisanal dishes. On the other hand, the stem, leaves, flowers and pods are used as fodder for cattle and goats.
Fuel
The plant material, trunk, stems and branches are used as firewood to obtain charcoal with excellent properties. Indeed, the charcoal obtained from the huizache has a moderate combustion and has a high calorific content.
Industrial
The exudate obtained from the huizache trunk is used as a substitute for gum arabic or as mucilage. In addition, the viscous liquid that is extracted from the immature pods is used to glue ceramic or porcelain figures.
From the flowers and fruits they obtain certain vegetable pigments that are used as dyes to dye fabrics and wallpaper. In fact, from the ground and boiled pods a black infusion is obtained that is used as ink.
The bark and pods of this species have a high tannin content, a very astringent substance used in the leather tanning process. The fruit pods present approximately 12-18% of this phenolic compound known as tannins.
The flowers macerated with vegetable butter or coconut oil obtain an essential oil with a pleasant violet smell. The huizache is widely cultivated in some countries exclusively to use its oil in the production of cosmetic products such as ointments, powders or flavorings.
Medicinal
The Acacia farnesiana It has multiple medicinal and curative properties aimed at preserving the health and well-being of patients from alternative treatments. The active principles with medicinal properties are extracted as an infusion or macerated from the roots, stems and leaves, as well as flowers and fruits.
The leaves and flowers of the huizache have therapeutic properties that, through infusions, can alleviate digestive disorders and diarrheal states. Likewise, it acts as a purifier of the gallbladder and prevents typhoid, spasms and a distended spleen.
On the other hand, it is used as a natural sedative and regulates the level of gastric acid in the stomach, preventing heartburn. Used in gargles, it is effective to soothe throat disorders such as tonsillitis, esophagitis or laryngitis.
Used as a decoction it can relieve bronchial ailments, flu and expectoration. In addition, it is regularly used as a muscle relaxant and as an aperitif to stimulate the appetite.
A strong concoction prepared from the roots of the huizache is consumed diluted in water to relieve vaginal hemorrhoids. The macerated fruit is applied to the teeth to strengthen the teeth and soothe ulcers or mouth sores.
Likewise, with the macerated fruit, an ointment with an antispasmodic effect is obtained, which applied to the neck and forehead relieves headaches. Finally, green fruit tea is used as…