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You are here >1Up Info > Wildlife, Animals, and Plants > Plant Species > Shrub > Species: Ungnadia speciosa | Mexican Buckeye
 

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VALUE AND USE

SPECIES: Ungnadia speciosa | Mexican Buckeye
WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : Wood of the Mexican buckeye is reddish-brown, soft, brittle, and close grained [23]. Sapwood is lighter in color [23]. Plants can be cut back regularly for firewood [19]. IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : Mexican buckeye is seldom browsed by domestic livestock except during periods of food scarcity [6,23]. Fruit and leaves contain the toxic alkaloid saponin which is poisonous to livestock [6]. Mexican buckeye may be responsible for occasional losses of cattle and goats in parts of southern New Mexico [6]. Seeds are eaten by insects and some small mammals after they fall to the ground [19]. PALATABILITY : Mexican buckeye browse is relatively unpalatable to domestic livestock. The sweet-tasting seeds [16] are readily eaten by a variety of small mammals [19]. NUTRITIONAL VALUE : Nutritional value of Mexican buckeye foliage has been documented as follows [8]: (percentage composition - dry weight) Protein Ether Crude N-free H2O Ash Potash Lime Magnesia Phosphoric extract fiber extract acid ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12.03 2.20 21.94 51.19 6.62 6.02 1.39 3.17 0.54 0.36 COVER VALUE : Mexican buckeye presumably provides cover for a variety of wildlife species. Trees may also produce shade for domestic livestock. VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : NO-ENTRY OTHER USES AND VALUES : Mexican buckeye can be planted as a shade tree or as an ornamental in landscaping [6,20]. It is attractive when either planted alone or intermixed with other species [20]. Fragrant, showy flowers enhance its attractiveness during the spring [19,23]. Mexican buckeye can be trained as a hedge, planted onto berms of earth-covered homes, and used as a "display thicket shrub" [19]. Flowers provide nectar for honey bees, and it is considered a good honey plant [22]. Children of west Texas reportedly use the round seeds of Mexican buckeye as playing marbles [23]. However, in view of its toxicity to rats in laboratory studies, this use should probably be discouraged. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : Toxicity: The sweet seeds of Mexican buckeye taste like pistachio nuts and were formerly considered as a potential human food source [19]. Stanford [19] and his colleagues reportedly consumed up to 20 seeds without suffering ill effects. However, results of laboratory tests with rats soon put an end to these culinary experiments. Rats which had ingested Mexican buckeye seeds soon exhibited numerous signs of both neurological and organ damage and most died within 3 weeks [19]. Seeds can cause dizziness, nausea, and abdominal discomfort in humans [6,16]. Spider infestations: Fruit of Mexican buckeye is commonly infested with spiders [19]. Where infestations occur, seeds may be "glued" to the capsules by web-building activities and commonly remain on the tree until the following spring. On the average, approximately 10 percent of all fruit is infested [19].

Related categories for Species: Ungnadia speciosa | Mexican Buckeye

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Information Courtesy: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Fire Effects Information System

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