Plant Name:  Palo Verde Tree

Botanical Name:  Parkinsonia (cercidium) species.  The variety that is in the garden is unknown but it is believed to be P. microphyllum.

Note:  This plant was an original part of the garden when it was first the Southwestern Edible Garden.  The use of the variety we have in the garden is according to Southwest foraging sources.  This plant, however, could have been used by the Cahuillan people.

Native Name:  The plant variety used by the mountain Cahuillan people was parkinsonia floridum, and the Native name is U’uwet.

Height/Physical Description:  Grows 20 feet in height and wide.  Leaves and bark are yellowish green.  Pale yellow flowers in Spring then produces slender, brown, flat pods (about 2 to 3 inches in length).

Use:  Food.  The pods have edible beans.

Harvesting:  The bean pods are harvested from July to August.

Preparation:  After collecting the pods, the beans are removed, roasted or dried then ground into flour to make mush and cakes.