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