Paleo Foraging

Chilopsis linearis (Cav.) Sweet

Synonym: = Bignonia linearis

Common names: Desert willow, willowleaf catalpa, mimbre

Location in Texas: all TX except far N (more in W); common ornamental in Travis Co.

Form: shrub, tree up to 40 ft tall.

Flowers: Apr-Oct (white, pink, purple, violet).

Food

Flowers – sometimes eaten by the Cahuilla (Bean and Saubel 1972:53).

Fruits – the long seed pods were sometimes eaten by the Cahuilla (Bean and Saubel 1972:53).

Material

Bark – the fibrous material was used to make nets, shirts, and breechclouts by the Cahuilla (Bean and Saubel 1972:53).

Wood – used in house construction by the Mexican Kickapoo (Latorre and Latorre 1977:342) and Cahuilla (Bean and Saubel 1972:53). It was used for the purpose because it is durable and pliable (Bean and Saubel 1972:53). It was also used to make granaries (Bean and Saubel 1972:53).

It was used to make bows by the Cahuilla, some measuring 3.5 to 4.5 ft long and 1.5 to 2.5 in wide (Bean and Saubel 1972:53).

The wood was used for making ladles by the Mexican Kickapoo (Latorre and Latorre 1977:343).

Experimentation

I’ve eaten the flowers numerous times, and their taste is rather mild, but slightly bitter. The flower buds are similar. They would make an interesting garnish for a salad but would be unlikely to ever constitute a substantial food resource.