Texas-mountain-laurel
Dermatophyllum secundiflorum
Synonyms: Calia erythrosperma, Sophora speciosa, Dermatophyllum speciosum, Broussonetia secundiflora, Broussonetia speciosa, Virgilia secundiflora, Sophora sempervirens, Calia secundiflora, Calia secundiflora subsp. albofoliolata, Sophora secundiflora, Cladrastis secundiflora, Agastianis secundiflora, Sophora secundiflora f. xanthosperma, Calia secundiflora f. xanthosperma
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Botanical Description
Dermatophyllum secundiflorum (Ortega) Gandhi & Reveal (Fabaceae), Texas mountain laurel or mescal bean, is an evergreen shrub or small tree of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, occurring on limestone slopes and canyon edges of central and west Texas, southern New Mexico and northeastern Mexico. Plants reach 2-10 m tall, with smooth grey bark and dense, glossy, dark green pinnately compound leaves 10-15 cm long bearing 7-9 oblong, leathery leaflets with rounded apices. In early spring, dense pendulous racemes 5-12 cm long bear numerous fragrant violet-purple pea-flowers strongly scented of grape soda. The woody, constricted, silvery-pubescent pod is 2.5-10 cm long and contains one to several brilliant orange-red seeds about 1-1.5 cm across. All parts, especially the seeds, contain cytisine and related alkaloids and are highly toxic to humans and livestock.
Cultural & Historical Context
Traditional American Uses
The bright red seeds of Dermatophyllum secundiflorum (formerly Sophora secundiflora), the mescal bean, contain the highly toxic quinolizidine alkaloid cytisine and were the central sacrament of the Red Bean or Mescal Bean Cult practised by a number of southern Plains and northern Mexican peoples, including the Apache, Kiowa, Comanche, Tonkawa, Wichita and others, well before the spread of the peyote religion (Campbell, 1958; Schultes, 1937). The seeds were also strung as ornaments and rattles for ceremonial regalia. Ingestion produces violent vomiting, hallucinations, convulsions and potentially fatal respiratory failure; the seeds are extremely toxic and were never employed in routine domestic medicine. Use waned in the late nineteenth century as peyote (Lophophora williamsii) replaced mescal bean in most surviving ritual contexts (Campbell, 1958).
Chemistry & External Identifiers
Important Disclaimer
This information is for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before using any herbal remedy, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking medications.