Snowberry Symphoricarpos Albus

Use by People:  Snowberries are high in saponins, which are poorly absorbed by the body.  Although they are largely considered poisonous, (given names like ‘corpse berry’ or ‘snake’s berry’), some tribes ate them fresh or dried them for later consumption.  The berries were used as a shampoo to clean hair.  Crushed berries were also rubbed on the skin to treat burns, warts, rashes and sores; and rubbed in armpits as an antiperspirant.  Various parts were infused and used as an eyewash for sore eyes.  A tea made from the roots was used for stomach disorders; a tea made from the twigs was used for fevers.  Branches were tied together to make brooms.  Bird arrows were also made from the stems.

Use by Wildlife: Saponins are much more toxic to some animals, such as fish; hunting tribes sometimes put large quantities of snowberries in streams or lakes to stupefy or kill fish. “The Green River tribe say that when these berries are plentiful, there will be many dog salmon, for the white berry is the eye of the dog salmon.” Common snowberry is an important browse for deer, antelope, and Bighorn Sheep; use by elk and moose varies.  The berries are an important food for grouse, grosbeaks, robins and thrushes.  Bears also eat the fruit.  The shrub provides good cover and nesting sites for gamebirds, rabbits, and other small animals.  Pocket gophers burrow underneath it. The pink flowers attract hummingbirds, but are mostly pollinated by bees.  The leaves are eaten by the Sphinx Moth larvae.

Growth: This species usually grows 3-9 feet (1-2m) tall.

Names: Symphori- means “bear together;” –carpos means fruits– referring to the clustered fruits.  Albus meaning white, and the common name, Snowberry also refers to the white fruits.  This species is sometimes known as Waxberry, White Coralberry, or White, Thin-leaved, or Few-flowered Snowberry.

Snowberry or ghost berry. Don’t eat but can be used on rashes.

Mexican Trees - Golden Shower Trees Medicinal Uses

By Liliana Usvat      
 Blog 325-365

Golden Shower Trees (English) Lluvia de Oro (Spanish), Cassia fistula, Fabaceae family; native to southern Asia. A deciduous tree with pinnae leaflets (foliage), brought in the late 19th Century to Yucatan as an ornamental flowering tree; it is most striking during May when it is in full bloom. 

Cassia fistula is native to South Asia. It has been found widely in India, Pakistan, Myanmar, SriLanka, etc. This tree is the national tree of Thailand and its flower is its national flower. It is also the state flower of Kerala in India.

Flowers bloom in delicate golden yellow drop clusters. Golden Shower seed pods are long dark brown sausage-like with woody exterior and stick molasses covering wafer shaped seeds,  abundant while blooming. 

 Like the Royal Flamboyan, Golden Shower tree is a favorite in Mayan villages and Yucatan's urban avenues or parks, for its amazingly exotic looking and has truly whimsical beautiful  flowering bloom clusters gently dropping ever so graceful down its branches. 

 Golden Shower should not be confused with another member of the Fabaceae family the Golden Rain Tree or Lapacho amarillo (Spanish), Tabebuia chrysotricha, native to China, whose flower clusters grow upwards. 


Lluvia de Oro, also known as the Golden Shower tree, Amaltas and Cassia Fistula, is a small to medium-size tree which can reach 30-40 feet tall. Its shiny green leaves drop in April, and by late spring the entire tree turns into a show stopping burst of lemon-yellow. 

When in full bloom (May-June or early July), the trees are covered with long grape-like clusters of countless delicate yellow flowers – it almost appears as if they have yellow lace dripping from their branches. The leaves begin to return as the flowering progresses, with foliage totally restored by July. 


Lluvia de Oro trees attract bees, butterflies and birds and are widely grown in tropical and subtropical areas around the world for their ornamental and medicinal properties.
The flowers are followed by 2-foot-long, round, slender and woody bean pods which contain several seeds. The fruit/pods emerge green, but mature to black, and can remain on the tree until the following year.

Medicinal Uses

The pod produces between its many seeds a pulp that makes an excellent laxative
The uncooked pulp of the pods cures constipation.

The herb, Cassia fistula is having great medicinal uses and its bark, fruits and leaves have been used since ancient times. It has been referred to as “Aragvadha” or “disease killer”.

Stomach disorders

Cassia Fistula is very effective in treating constipation. Cassia fistula is very effective in treating ulcers. The herb is very effective in treating piles. The pulp of the tree can be soaked in water for about an hour or so and consumed at bedtime. It also kills the intestinal worms.

Common Cold and Cough

The roots of the herb have great curative effects against common cold. Some people inhale the smoke of the roots. This cures the mucous that is found along the respiratory tract.

The pod of the tree is powdered and mixed with honey and consumed. This is very effective in curing cough.

Fever

When infected with fever, a tonic is prepared from the roots of Cassia Fistula.

Skin Problems

The herb is very effective in treating skin disorders like irritation, swelling, etc. The herb is very great in curing fungal infections of the skin. Some of them are athlete’s foot, ringworm, jock itch, etc.

Immunity Booster

The bark and fruits of the tree have great antioxidant properties and hence boost the immunity system of the body.

Blood Purification

The bark of the tree and fruits help in purification of the blood.

Wounds

Cassia Fistula is great in treating wounds. The specialty of the herb is that it promotes tissue regeneration. In many countries, the juice extracted from the juice of the leaves or a paste of the leaves is used for dressing the infected skin areas.

Blood Sugar

The roots of Cassia fistula have the property to reduce blood sugar by about 30 percent.

Purgative

In some countries like Philippines, a decoction is prepared from the leaves and fruit pulp of the tree. This serves as a great purgative.

Precautions

The herb needs to be taken in small quantities. Consuming excess of the medicine results in stomach pain and vomiting.