Bob and jane
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cualtecomate tree
On a recent mule trip to Rancho San Gregorio in the Sierra San Franciscos I saw a very unique tree in our camping area. The tree was ringed with
evenly spaced holes which covered the entire trunk and, I think, every limb. We were baffled by the holes. I was told it was a cualtecomate tree.
The holes were left by flowers that grew out of the trunk and the limbs of the tree. Our head vacquero, Chema, pointed out the flowers to me. Perhaps
I was overwhelmed by all the amazing sights on the trip because I took only a couple of not so good photos of the tree and I failed to ask how the
tree came to be there and did it have fruit and how old was it and etc. All the questions I want the answers to now that I am not there. I googled
cualtecomate and was suggested to use cuastecomate which sent me to a resort near Barre de Navidad on Mexico's west coast. The resort was apparently
named after a tree but I got no information on the tree. I figure for all things Baja that Nomad is better than google. Can anyone help me?
[Edited on 11-26-2008 by Bob and jane]
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Bob and jane
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cualtecomate flower
Here, hopefully, is a close up of the flower on the tree. Getting some weird messages when I try to post the photo. Attempt number 3.
[Edited on 11-26-2008 by Bob and jane]
[Edited on 11-26-2008 by Bob and jane]
[Edited on 11-26-2008 by Bob and jane]
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Osprey
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I can help a little. The tree grows in Baja sur mostly on ranches up in the canyons. I know of about 10. The reason they are so sparse is that the
seed is like a bole and grows on the trunk. It is rare to find the tree in seed. The bole is the size of a softball, green, hard as steel on or off
the tree. Might be that the tree is trying to protect the seed, protect it's territory like some plants which put out poison roots. The seeds and
leaves are used to make a tea for stomach ailments -- when I asked several rancheros about the ailments they all said "golpe" suggesting medicine for
stomach trauma. The tree also bears the name Arbol Calabasas for the likeness the bole has to a gourd shape. I'm hoping one day science will find an
animal that once lived in Mexico that ate the bole, spread the seeds -- now that no animal can do that the trees are dieing out. There is a tree in
Mauritius with a fruit the extinct Dodo bird ate and distributed that is now almost extinct.
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Bob and jane
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Wow! Now I am more intrigued than ever. I might have to go back and take some better photos. That would be a great excuse for another trip. Thanks
so much for the info, Osprey. So it is indeed a cualtecomate tree and not a cuastecomate tree?
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Osprey
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That's the name: cualtecomate
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Osprey
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Tree photo
Bob and Jane, here's a shot of the tree in seed. I think this one is at El Coro, a ranch near Buena Vista
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LOSARIPES
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There are thousands of these trees in the state of Sinaloa. They are called "Tecomate". The fruit as seen on the picture by Osprey, is hard and solid.
They turn brownish and fall to the ground. Then they dry and sound a little like a maraca when you shake them. I saw them when I was a kid (many blue
moons ago).
One thing I remember is that the locals at some point in the tecomate drying process, drill a hole on it and fill it with water, put a cork on it and
forget about it under the bed for a year or so. It ferments and out comes a liquor.
There is a town near Mazatlan named "El Tecomate de la Noria" which is the town in my memories probably. There are several tows in Mexico named after
(El) Tecomate.
Note: About drinking Tecomate, I'd rather stick to Tecate...
Aripes
God bless America
and Baja tambien
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Bob and jane
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Thanks Osprey and Losaripes. I knew I could count on Nomads for the answer. I'm glad to hear they are thriving someplace. I wonder how hard it is
to get a tree started from seed. I've got a dozen palo blancos in my yard that I started from collected seeds. I love a challenge. Hmmm, have to
keep my eyes out..........................
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fdt
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The tree of God and the devil
One fine day as God was finishing his plans for the earth he was on the stage of nature and with great dedication he started to create the leaves of a
tree, he was giving shape to the flowers and was looking at the best place to set them. He would move the leaves from one place to another and was
looking for the best location for the fruit. He would look at the shape of the trunk and branches because he wanted them to be distributed in an
adecuate form.
In the mean time, the devil, from a distance, would observe God doing his work.
This one doesn't waste time, he works a lot = thought the evil one. And to bother the creator, he decided to dare him.
- Hey there God, I'd like to make you a bet. I see that you're pretty slow and I'd like to dare you to see who can finish a tree first. You'll see I'm
going to beat you.
-And what for? Answered God.
-Just to play, to make it more fun, sayed the devil.
Well I don't think you'll beat me but ok I accept, as long as you get to work.
The devil told God that he would make the Cirian tree, that would be the name he would give his tree.
God accepted but told the devil he would not name the tree until he thought about it real well and depending on the end result.
The time limit was 24 hours. God started, as always, carefuly designing his tree. From the seeds, the branches, leaves and all of its components. The
devil, confident, stayed laying down, smoking, drinking and would laugh at the slow speed of his adversary. He would distract him and would pass the
time comfortably as he watched God at work. He wanted to demonstrate to God that taking things more calmly he would beat him at creation.
When he least expected it, the devil had very little time left. Quickly, he started throwing some branches randomly. He left them just as they landed.
They were somewha out of place and crooked but he didn't care. He took a bunch of flowers and in the same way just threw them, some fell almost at the
roots and at the end he barely had time to throw the fruit at it.
When he was finished, the devil felt very happy to have finished before God but God reminded him that he had forgoten something, that his work was not
valid because it wasn't finished. There were no leaves.
The devil sayed thet they were not necesary in his creation but God, beeing the perfectionist, corrected him and sayed that a tree without leaves was
not posible so God took a fistfull of leaves and threw them at the tree. These fell on the tree in the form of a cross.
This is just one of several legends that I found surrounding the Cuatecomate or Cirian tree.
Another legens states that the leaves also work as a drowned body detector.
http://www.mexicoforestal.gob.mx/nuestros_arboles.php?id=70
Another legend goes that it was such a good shade tree that the devil would sit under it to rest so God made the leaves in the shape of a cross to
scare him away.
http://redescolar.ilce.edu.mx:2000/redescolar/publicaciones/...
If you look for Cirian on ebay, you'll find several craft items.
And it is also a good wood for Boat building: framing, Charcoal, Fuelwood, Tool handles, Vehicle parts, Wheel spokes, Wheels.
http://www.thewoodexplorer.com/maindata/we348.html
And finaly, yes, you guessed it "It's medicinal".
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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DianaT
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Great legend, FDT---I really enjoy learning about local legends.
Thanks---also a great looking tree.
Diane
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fdt
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I can find more in exchange for toys 
http://forums.bajanomad.com/viewthread.php?tid=35415
A well informed Baja California traveler is a smart Baja California traveler!
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bacquito
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Thanks to all, very interesting. Hopefully, I'll see one one of these days.
bacquito
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