Palo azul is the more common name for Eysenhardtia polystachya , a shrub or tree of the Fabiaceae or legume kin , which is native to northern and central Mexico and Arizona . It is deciduous and grows from 3 to 20 human foot , depending on locating . The young branch are covered with ok hair and the foliation features compound , twin leaflets in groups of two to four . In leap 3 - inch flower capitulum seem with clustering of fragrant , white blossoms , which are followed by 3 - inch longsighted seedpods . Palo azul is of medicative and ethnobotanical , or cultural , grandness .
History
Palo azul has been known for centuries . Sixteenth one C Mexican bookman , Martin de la Cruz , draw palo azul as a singultus treatment . In the same one C , scholar Francisco Hernandez order the flora for a number of incendiary and digestive ailments . Still another authority , 18th century writer , Juan de Esteyneffer , paint a picture that palo azul be used as a diuretic and curative for kidney disease . In the 19th century , writers for the Mexican Society of Natural History described the plant life ’s traditional use as a diuretic .
Names
Palo azul is also known as kidneywood , palo dulce and palo santo . Palo azul means " blue control stick " in Spanish , perchance as a reference to the blue dyestuff obtained from its woodwind instrument . Palo dulce means " unfermented stick " and palo santo translates as " holy control stick . " The name kidneywood mention to the plant ’s propose medicative property . Other Eysenhardtia metal money are also known as kidneywood .
Traditional Medicinal Use
Palo azul was used as a traditional Mexican remedy for kidney problems , such as bloody urine and kidney stones . It was consumed in the form of a tea brew from the flora ’s leaves and stem . The same tea was used to prevent stillbirth . The flowers of palo azul were combined with other blossom , including elder flowers , to make an excerption give to children to treat looseness of the bowels . A barque extract was sometimes used for contraceptive method . cookery made from palo azul plant parts were take internally to regale diabetes and applied outwardly to cleanse injury and wash out the eyes .
Culture
Palo azul is an excellent landscape painting industrial plant , especially for xeriscape or dry garden situations . It can be propagated by seeds or deal cutting that are collected in the crepuscule . The trees occur naturally in juiceless , rocky filth and should be plant in locations with excellent drain . pee until prove ; afterwards , minimum irrigation should be necessary . For xeriscape landscape gardening , group palo azul trees with other plants that have downcast water motive .
Habitat Plants
Members of the Eysenhardtia or kidneywood crime syndicate , have been used as a food for thought source for browsing Bos taurus , sheep and Goat . They are also attractive to deer . The fragrant white flowers are an fantabulous generator of ambrosia for honey bee and attract butterfly as well . Kidneywood is also the larval food of the dogface butterfly .
