| Pages:
1
2 |
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
Who can guess what this tree is?
when we went to a secret beach, these blooms were everywhere...the bushe were loaded down with them...I have never seen them so full of fruit....lets
see if someone knows what they are and what the fruit is used for!!!
|
|
|
Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3397
Registered: 9-21-2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy!
|
|
Rhus lentii--Cedros Lemonade Berry....I think....
|
|
|
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
Wow...that didnt take long...these are called manzanita trees...their wood is famous for cooking over...smoking things...a very hard, long burning,
aromatic wood...even better than mesquite.
these berry type fruits are really something....super acidic like limes but more concentrated...they are like sucking on a real sour candy...reminded
me of a sweet tart...yet another baja wonder..
Juan's dad used to make lemonade out of them...I LOVE hearing about what the folks foraged for in the old days...before refrigeration, stores, etc,
...one my dreams is to write a story about what life was like in san roque in the good old days.
[Edited on 6-14-2009 by shari]
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19974
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
Wow...that didnt take long...these are called manzanita trees...their wood is famous for cooking over...smoking things...a very hard, long burning,
aromatic wood...even better than mesquite.
these berry type fruits are really something....super acidic like limes but super concentrated. Juan's dad used to make lemonade out of them...they
are like sucking on a real sour candy...reminded me of a sweet tart...yet another baja wonder. |
does appear to be a rhus. is not a true manzanita, but I could see where it could be confused with a manzanita, as leaves are sort of similar
(trunks/wood of manzanita is usually quite distinct).
|
|
|
Mulegena
Super Nomad
Posts: 2412
Registered: 11-7-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
Manzanita
I didn't know a variety grew in Baja-- now I feel even more at home, like when I see or smell pine trees I'm home!
The flowers make a really delicate, lovely tea. Pour hot water over them, add just a touch of sweetener and there you are!
Rather like jazmin tea.
About your book, Shari-- please, just start writing. I can't wait!
These intimate stories should never be forgotten.
Have you read The Oolone Way by Malcolm Margolin? (pronounced o-lone-ey) Its a delightful description of life in the San Francisco Bay Area in Alta
California from the perspective of the Oolone Indian tribe that populated the region in the not-so-distant unspoiled time before civilization reached
the Pacific.
|
|
|
pacificobob
Super Nomad
Posts: 2335
Registered: 4-23-2006
Member Is Offline
|
|
just bought a copy from amazon for 7 cents +shipping
|
|
|
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
thanks so much for the tip on making tea....I often cut branches when they are flowering as they last a long time in a vase.
I need to focus on interviewing the old timers who are still around who first settled in San Roque...I was inspired to do a book when an elder took me
for a walk around the village and stopped at different parts and told me stories about what went on...what was where...like the chicken coop and her
once lovely garden which is now sand beach...her eyes lit up with the memories.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65293
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
Before you make a tea thinking that shrub is a common manzanita, check with locals... I just checked Norman Roberts book, and think Mexitron (a plant
expert) is correct with the variety or family of shrubs it is part of:
Rhus lentil (common name Sugar Bush/ Lentisco) on page 104. It is part of the same family of plants as Poison Ivy and Poison Oak!
Other listings (page 102) which may be correct include:
Rhus integrifolia cedrosensis (on Isla Cedros).
Rhus integrifolia (Lemonade Berry/ Hieda)
Rhus ovata (Sugar Bush/ Lentisco): The Indians used the sticky surface of the fruits as a sugar. The berry is used to make a lemonade or sucked when
one is thirsty for a refreshing taste!
[Edited on 6-14-2009 by David K]
|
|
|
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
Must be Rhus ovata then...if you can suck on the berries or make sugar out of the goo, then I would bet the flowers were safe for a tea...never had a
problem picking heaps of them for wild flower arrangements.
Juan is good at warning me about nasy plants like Mal de Ojo..which is tempting to pick because of it's lovely orange bloom but really can do damage
if you rub your eyes after...locals say it can cause blindness.
|
|
|
toneart
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 4901
Registered: 7-23-2006
Member Is Offline
Mood: Skeptical
|
|
The leaves do look like Manzanita. I have lots of them on my property here on the west slope of the Northern High Sierras. They do not produce berries
that are large and sweet....different species. They do produce small red berries like that on Xmas Holly. I believe they are toxic, although the bear
eat them. You can see the berries in their scat.
Like David K says, know your Rhus species. Maybe there is a book that would identify the different species?
Sounds like you have crossed that line and survived, Shari and Mulegena.
Edited to correct stupididy. 
[Edited on 6-14-2009 by toneart]
|
|
|
Bob H
Elite Nomad
Posts: 5867
Registered: 8-19-2003
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by toneart
Edited to correct stupididy.
[Edited on 6-14-2009 by toneart] |
That's hilarious!
Bob H
|
|
|
jorgie
Nomad
Posts: 430
Registered: 8-25-2006
Location: on another road,again
Member Is Offline
Mood: on the road....again,again
|
|
Shari.......gotta keep asking ..WHERE IS THAT BOOK ???? one of the many you have yet to write ...
|
|
|
Mexitron
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3397
Registered: 9-21-2003
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
Member Is Offline
Mood: Happy!
|
|
Manzanita has a different meaning in Mexico than in the US I believe--that is not the Arctostaphylos, or Manzanita, that we are familiar with up north
(which you can find at higher elevations in Baja).
I recognize the berries as being similar to the Rhus integrifolia that grows in SoCal and Northern Baja. And Rhus integrifolia fades out in the
central coast down there where Rhus lentii takes over--but they are very close. Yes they are in the same family as Poison Oak but so are Pistachios
and Mangos! But to be sure I'll have to check it out in person in a few weeks....
|
|
|
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
ooops...Juan corrected me...it's manzanito not manzanita.
Well, the kids book is done and local aritst and my best GF will do the illustrations....we are discussing whether to self publish.
"Amazing Tales of Humans & Whales" is being fine tuned and I have started to work on the History of San Roque in earnest now...got my list of
elders to interview...a list of questions and topics to cover with them. I'm really excited about this new project as is Juan. There are so many great
stories about the place.
Today Juan told me a great story about how the kids used to volunteer to help unload the supply boat when it came in so they could steal Gerber baby
food jars and eat em up the arroyo!! too funny...I can just see them stuffing their pockets with them.
|
|
|
timmurphy
Newbie
Posts: 24
Registered: 2-27-2007
Member Is Offline
|
|
rhus of course...same family as poison oak,however non-toxic as such.everyone beat me to it,but i didn't need a book.Genus of poison oak goes back and
forth between Rhus and Toxicodendron.Depends on who is the botanist of the year.
|
|
|
David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 65293
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
Member Is Offline
Mood: Have Baja Fever
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by shari
Must be Rhus ovata then...if you can suck on the berries or make sugar out of the goo, then I would bet the flowers were safe for a tea...never had a
problem picking heaps of them for wild flower arrangements.
Juan is good at warning me about nasy plants like Mal de Ojo..which is tempting to pick because of it's lovely orange bloom but really can do damage
if you rub your eyes after...locals say it can cause blindness. |
Rhus ovata (Sugar Bush/ Lentisco)...
Has Juan ever heard it being called 'Lentisco' instead of just 'Manzanito'?
In your opening post, you said "....lets see if someone knows what they are and what the fruit is used for!!!"
What do the locals use the fruit for, Shari?
Thanks!
|
|
|
rob
Senior Nomad
Posts: 509
Registered: 10-19-2004
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
Member Is Offline
|
|
OK SHARI - CAN YOU NAME THIS ONE!
This tree is just outside Shari's brothers house in Asuncion. Here at Rancho la Aguja we have tried for 6 years to grow trees near the beach - the
only things that live are palms.
This tree is right on the beach and is thriving - we love it. But what is it?
|
|
|
shari
Select Nomad
Posts: 13049
Registered: 3-10-2006
Location: bahia asuncion, baja sur
Member Is Offline
Mood: there is no reality except the one contained within us "Herman Hesse"
|
|
Good question Rob...we have asked lots of people and nobody seems to know the name of it but they are very very commom and shoot up everywhere...the
roots go a long way and new shoots spring up.
The tree has white blooms that turn to little red berries but the birds and insects eat them all. The bees LOVE this tree which can be unnerving as
hundreds of bees hover around it...but dont bother the humans.
This thing grows like mad and I'm always trimming it....maybe here we will finally discover the name for it.
oh yeah DK...as i mentioned in the second post..the locals put a few in a glass with sugar and drank it like lemonade and sucked the berries to quench
their thirst.
[Edited on 6-15-2009 by shari]
|
|
|
Von
Senior Nomad
Posts: 961
Registered: 10-1-2006
Location: Poway-Rosarito
Member Is Offline
Mood: getting ready!
|
|
Im always sucking on those delicious seeds so sour.
There out only from late May to late august that's what ive notice since i was a kid ive been sucking those sour berries....
Usually im sucking on them while running they really open up your nasal cavity for better breathing. Has anyone ever notice that?
READY SET.....................
|
|
|
mtgoat666
Select Nomad
Posts: 19974
Registered: 9-16-2006
Location: San Diego
Member Is Offline
Mood: Hot n spicy
|
|
| Quote: | Originally posted by rob
This tree is just outside Shari's brothers house in Asuncion. Here at Rancho la Aguja we have tried for 6 years to grow trees near the beach - the
only things that live are palms.
This tree is right on the beach and is thriving - we love it. But what is it? |
very hard to tell from that picture, but sort of looks like brazilian pepper (schinus). post a pic of leaves if you want ID by nomad arm chair
botanists.
|
|
|
| Pages:
1
2 |
![[*]](images/xmbforum/default_icon.gif){kind=icon}
