Sarcomphalus obtusifolius / Lotebush

Sarcomphalus obtusifolius (Hook. ex Torr. & A.Gray) Hauenschild

= Rhamnus obtusifolia, Ziziphus lycioides, Z. obtusifolia

Lotebush, white crucillo, capulín, bachata

Papago: uːs tcui’tpa’t (Castetter and Underhill 1935:18)

Seri: xica imám coopol – “black-fruited things” / haaca (Felger and Moser 1985:358)

Location in Texas: all TX except further E & far N; not uncommon in Travis Co.

Form: shrub or small tree up to 8 ft. tall.

Flowers: Mar-Apr (yellow, green).

Notes – Ziziphus jujuba is the commercial jujube.

Food

Fruits – eaten by the Mexican Kickapoo (Latorre and Latorre 1977:345), Seri (Felger and Moser 1985:358), and Papago (Castetter and Underhill 1935:18). They were eaten fresh by the Seri and often raided from pack rat (Neotoma) nests (Felger and Moser 1985:358). Boiled into a syrup to eat by the Papago (Castetter and Underhill 1935:19). This was prepared the same as cactus fruit syrup [For prickly pear syrup: To make syrup, the pulp was mashed in a basket with a stick, then the juice was squeezed out, strained twice, then boiled and again strained (Castetter and Underhill 1935:23).] The juice was sometimes fermented (Castetter and Underhill 1935:25).

Gathering Season – summer (Castetter and Underhill 1935:18).

Medicine

Roots – dried, powdered, and applied to skin or scalp sores by the Seri (Felger and Moser 1985:358).

Material

Roots – pounded, water added, and used as shampoo by the Seri (Felger and Moser 1985:358).

Experimentation

I’ve tried the fruits a few times. They are quite delicious, with a taste similar to dates. They are sweet and have no objectionable flavor. They are also tasty when dried.