Practical
Plants

Sophora secundiflora

Mescal Bean

a perennial woody evergreen member of the Sophora genus in the family Leguminosae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Genus
Sophora
Life cycle
perennial
Foliage
evergreen
Woodiness
woody
Growth rate
slow
Height
10 m
Fertility
Insects
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects

Uses

Toxicity

Toxicity warning. The historical record reports a hazard for this plant. Do not use it to decide which parts are safe to eat or use medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

The plant, and especially the seeds, contains the poisonous alkaloid cytosine (or sophorin according to another report[12]), which resembles nicotine in its action and is similarly toxic[8].

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Hallucinogenic, narcotic[12][2][3]. An infusion of the seeds is used[3][4], half a seed is enough to produce intoxication[3]. An infusion of the ground up seed has also been applied to ears in the treatment of earaches[5][9]. The seeds contain the highly poisonous alkaloid cytosine (or sophorine) - this substance is related to nicotine and acts violently in the human system[5].

Product or use
Hallucinogenic
Product or use
Narcotic

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A yellow dye is obtained from the wood[7]. Wood - very heavy, hard, close grained[12]. Of no commercial importance[7].

Product or use
Dye
Product or use
Wood

Ecology and functions

Nitrogen fixer

Environment

Range
Southern N. America - Texas, New Mexico and Northern Mexico.
Habitat
Borders of streams, forming thickets or small groves in low rather moist limestone soils[12].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
no shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 8+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral, alkaline
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a greenhouse[4]. Pre-soak stored seed for 12 hours in hot (not boiling) water and sow in late winter in a greenhouse[11]. Prick out the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle into individual pots in the greenhouse, and grow them on for 2 years under protected conditions. Plant them out into their permanent positions in early summer of their third year. Cuttings of young shoots with a heel, July/August in a frame[1]. Air-layering[4].

Cultivation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Succeeds in a well-drained moderately fertile soil in full sun[4]. Succeeds in a hot dry position. Rather slow-growing and difficult to transplant[7]. A very ornamental plant[10]. This species has not been tried outdoors in Britain, it is possibly hardy if grown in the sunniest mildest areas of the country, or against a sunny wall in less mild areas[1]. It grows best in the warmer areas of the country where the wood will be more readily ripened and better able to withstand winter cold[6]. Plants should be container-grown and planted out whilst young, older plants do not transplant well[6]. The flowers have a powerful and delicious fragrance[12][4], though some people find them offensive[7]. Plants in this genus are notably resistant to honey fungus[4]. This species has a symbiotic relationship with certain soil bacteria, these bacteria form nodules on the roots and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Some of this nitrogen is utilized by the growing plant but some can also be used by other plants growing nearby[4].

References

  1. Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00

    ↩1↩2

  2. Yanovsky. E. Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. U.S. Depf of Agriculture.

    ↩

  3. Emboden. W. Narcotic Plants Studio Vista 1979-00-00 ISBN 0-289-70864-8

    ↩1↩2↩3

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6↩7

  5. Weiner. M. A. Earth Medicine, Earth Food. Ballantine Books 1980-00-00 ISBN 0-449-90589-6

    ↩1↩2

  6. Grey-Wilson. C. & Matthews. V. Gardening on Walls Collins 1983-00-00 ISBN 0-00-219220-0

    ↩1↩2

  7. Vines. R.A. Trees of North Texas University of Texas Press. 1982-00-00 ISBN 0292780206

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4

  8. Bown. D. Encyclopaedia of Herbs and their Uses. Dorling Kindersley, London. 1995-00-00 ISBN 0-7513-020-31

    ↩

  9. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩

  10. Diggs, Jnr. G.M.; Lipscomb. B. L. & O'Kennon. R. J Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas Botanical Research Institute, Texas. 1999-00-00 http://artemis.austincollege.edu/acad/bio/gdiggs/NCTXpdf.htm

    ↩

  11. Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00

    ↩

  12. Sargent. C. S. Manual of the Trees of N. America. Dover Publications Inc. New York. 1965-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20278-X

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5

Edit this page