Common Name:

General Information

Eysenhardtia officinalis is a shrub or a small tree that can range from 1.5 - 4 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and source of materials. It is sometimes grown as a living fence.

Known Hazards

None known

Botanical References

Range

Southern N. America - eastern Mexico (San Luis Postosi, Hidalgo, Veracruz)

Habitat

Deciduous and evergreen forests; at elevations from 200 - 550 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Shrub
Height	2.50 m
Pollinators	Bees
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a position in full sun, tolerating light shade.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Portions of the wood, together with the bark, are placed in a container with water and soaked for 12 hours or more. The resulting liquid is of a pale yellow colour when viewed in the light, turning blue when held against a dark backdrop. This infusion is drunk on a regular basis as a health-promoting drink and has been shown to have a positive action on maintaining the health of the kidneys and bladder, and to also be of benefit in the treatment of diabetes[].

The leaves are used in the treatment of kidney conditions[].

Agroforestry Uses:

The tree is used used as a living fence[].
The flowers are a good source of nectar and are relished by bees[, ].

Other Uses

A yellowish-brown dye is obtained from the wood. It is used to colour textiles[, ].

The wood is used for making agricultural implements and furniture[].

Propagation

Seed - sow in trays in light shade in a nursery. No presoaking is necessary, though 12 hours in warm water might speed up the process. Germination is best at daytime temperatures of 20 - 30°c with 12 hours of light each day, though it will also germinate in the dark at temperatures from 15 - 40°c[]. Be very careful with the seedlings, they are very susceptible to damping off. Pot up when seedlings have three sets of true leaves and plant out when around 15 - 25cm tall.
Seed can also be sown whilst still in the seedpods. The pods should be soaked for 72 hours prior to sowing, with the water being changed every 8 hours[].
Cuttings of soft or semi-hard wood, 10 - 15cm long are quite easy and tend to root in 3 - 4 weeks[].

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