HUIZACHE: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, CARE AND USES - BIOLOGY - 2025

The huizache (Acacia farnesiana) is an arboreal species with abundant thorns and aromatic flowers belonging to the Mimosoideae subfamily of the Fabaceae family. Also known as sweet acacia, aromo, bayahonda, hawthorn, aroma flower, güizache or zubinché, it is a species native to the dry environments of the American tropics.

It is a medium tree of the shrub type, with a uniform and compact crown of bipinnate leaves developed along the branches. Branched and spiny stem, with abundant tiny flowers constituted in spherical, compact, yellow and very fragrant inflorescences.

Huizache (Acacia farnesiana). Source: Mike

It is a species used for the reforestation of degraded lands, it has useful compounds at an industrial or medicinal level and is a source of firewood or fuel. In some regions it is considered an invasive plant due to its ability to colonize grasslands and intervened environments.

General characteristics

Appearance

The huizache is a small, branched and thorny shrub or tree, 1-2 meters high with a thickness of about 40 cm on average. Evergreen or sub-deciduous, it has a wide, oval crown with a foliar coverage of 3-10 meters in the round.

Leaves

The alternate and bipinnate leaves have a pair of stipulate spines 1-2 cm long, for a total size of 2-8 cm including the petiole. Each leaflet contains 2-8 opposite pairs of primary pinnae and 10-25 opposite pairs of 3-8 cm long secondary pinnae.

Trunk

The stem is short and thin with abundant ramifications that arise from the base of the stem. The erect branches, sometimes extended or zigzagging, have rigid spines 5-25 mm long.

The outer bark is flat when young and cracked in adult plants, of brown to gray-leaden tones and with numerous lenticels. The inner bark is fibrous and yellowish in color, with a particular garlic flavor and smell.

flowers

The flowers are made up of a glomerulus or densely grouped inflorescences, forming a yellow globose mass. These strongly scented structures emerge solitary or clustered 2-3 from the axillary stipules.

Detail of the flowers of huizache (Acacia farnesiana). Source: Forest & Kim Starr

Fruit

The fruit is a curly and leathery legume, 2-10 cm long, solitary or paired, smooth or slightly striated diagonally. These pods are delayed dehiscent and remain attached to the tree after maturing.

Seeds

The seed is a smooth reniform grain of 7-8 cm long, brown in color with an open fissure line and arranged in double rows.

Taxonomy

- Kingdom: Plantae

- Division: Magnoliophyta

- Class: Magnoliopsida

- Order: Fabales

- Family: Fabaceae

- Subfamily: Mimosoideae

- Tribe: Acacieae

- Genus: Acacia

- Species: Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.

Habitat and distribution

Acacia farnesiana is a species native to tropical America, from Peru, Colombia and Brazil to Florida, Louisiana, Texas and California to the southern US In Europe it was introduced from Santo Domingo by the Jesuits in the mid-17th century during the Spanish colonial stage.

Detail of the branches and thorns of huizache (Acacia farnesiana). Source: Mark Marathon

At present it is distributed throughout the tropical and warm zones around the world. Its wide level of distribution is due to natural and anthropogenic factors, even in some regions it is considered an invasive species.

It is a plant that adapts to low fertility soils, poor in organic content, sandy, dry, saline and even alkaline.

It predominates in warm and semi-warm climatic regions, with average annual rainfall of 500-750 mm and a temperature range between 5 and 30 ºC. Indeed, it requires full sun exposure for its optimal development, being also tolerant to drought or low levels of precipitation.

The huizache generally grows on intervened, ruderal, fallow and abandoned lands. Also, outside of cultivation areas or pastures, roads, paths, streams or water courses.

Care

Requirements

The huizache is a species that has a wide range of adaptation in terms of soil, humidity and temperature. It inhabits arid or semi-arid regions and has an extensive root system capable of penetrating deep water tables.

It adapts to temperature variations between 0 and 48 ºC, to low relative humidity and to little annual precipitation. It requires full sun exposure to grow, so it is established in open places. It also tolerates strong winds in winter times.

Huizache (Acacia farnesiana) adult plant. Source: Judgefloro

It grows on acidic and saline soils, even on sodium and stony soils characteristic of the coastal and Mediterranean regions. Indeed, it needs loose, deep and well-drained soil, as it is resistant to drought, but is susceptible to waterlogging.

This species has a great capacity to adapt to different environments and has attractive flowers with a pleasant fragrance. In fact, it usually blooms twice a year, a particular aspect of the species that makes it more appreciated.

Reproduction by seed

The huizache reproduces by seed, thanks to its wide capacity for adaptation to various unfavorable soil conditions. The seeds can remain dormant for several years until conditions improve and thus generate a new plant.

For its commercial propagation, the ripe fruits are harvested from January to April, selecting the dark fruits, free of physical damage or perforations. To achieve their germination, the seeds are placed on a substrate with a high content of organic matter and abundant irrigation, barely covered on the surface.

Germination begins 25-35 days after sowing, obtaining 85-100% germination depending on the quality of the seed. After 8-12 days, the seedlings will be ready to peal and transplant to their growing site.

There are various reproduction systems to obtain vigorous and well-bearing seedlings. These include plastic bags, containers, paper pot, Jiffy pressed peat discs or bare root cultivation.

Regardless of the system selected, constant watering and protection from direct sunlight must be maintained. As well as management in terms of weed control, organic or chemical fertilization and control of pests or diseases.

Seedling of huizache (Acacia farnesiana). Source: Philmarin

In order to plant the final site, it is essential to prepare the planting area. If the soil is very compact, it is recommended to dig deep and place some stones with sand to allow drainage.

At the time of sowing it is convenient to moisten the land and add an organic fertilizer that allows to have nutritious elements. Likewise, remove the soil in the final site to avoid contact of the roots with the fertilizer and avoid possible damage.

Vegetative reproduction

Huizache can also be propagated vegetatively through cuttings. For this process, pieces of semi-hard wood obtained in summer time are selected.

A clean, sharp knife makes a precise cut into the base of the stake. Subsequently, at the place of the cut it is immersed in a mixture of plant hormones before placing it on a rooting bed.

It is advisable to keep the stakes protected from the sun and covered with a plastic material that maintains a constant temperature of 21 ºC. Once bud sprouting has started, the seedlings are transferred to plastic bags under semi-shady conditions until transplantation to the final site.

Driving

Huizache does not require specific maintenance to obtain highly productive plants. However, it is convenient to provide adequate conditions of humidity, fertilization, weeding and control of pests or diseases.

During the initial phase of growth and development, it is convenient to apply continuous irrigation in order to favor the development of the root system. Likewise, during the summer season, water sparingly and in spring carry out organic or chemical fertilization.

Maintenance pruning is not necessary unless the plant has received physical damage from high winds. Sanitation pruning is necessary when there is any physiopathy or incidences of pests and diseases.

Green fruits of huizache (Acacia farnesiana). Source: Philmarin

Applications

Feeding

In some regions the leaves are used as a salad dressing in the preparation of certain artisan dishes. On the other hand, the stem, leaves, flowers and pods are used as fodder for cattle of the bovine and goat type.

Fuel

The plant material, trunk, stems and branches is used as firewood to obtain a charcoal with excellent properties. Indeed, the coal obtained from the huizache has a moderate combustion and has a high calorific content.

Industrial

The exudate obtained from the trunk of the huizache is used as a substitute for gum arabic or as mucilage. In addition, the viscous liquid that is extracted from the immature pods is used to glue ceramic or porcelain figures.

From the flowers and fruits they obtain certain vegetable pigments that are used as colorants to dye fabrics and wallpaper. In fact, from the ground and boiled pods a black infusion is obtained that is used as ink.

The bark and pods of this species have a high content of tannins, a highly astringent substance used in the leather tanning process. The pods of the fruit present approximately 12-18% of this phenolic compound known as tannins.

The flowers macerated with vegetable shortening or coconut oil yield an essential oil with a pleasant violet smell. Huizache is widely cultivated in some countries exclusively to use its oil in the manufacture of cosmetic products such as ointments, powders or flavorings.

Medicinal

Acacia farnesiana has multiple medicinal and healing properties aimed at preserving the health and well-being of alternative treatment patients. The active principles with medicinal properties are extracted as infusion or macerated from the roots, stems and leaves, as well as from flowers and fruits.

The leaves and flowers of the huizache have therapeutic properties that, through infusions, can alleviate digestive disorders and diarrhea. Likewise, it acts as a cleanser for the gallbladder and prevents typhoid, spasms and a distended spleen.

On the other hand, it is used as a natural painkiller and allows to regulate the level of gastric acid in the stomach, preventing heartburn. Used in gargles it is effective to soothe throat disorders such as tonsillitis, esophagitis or laryngitis.

Used as a decoction it can alleviate ailments of the bronchi, flu and expectoration. In addition, it is used regularly as a muscle relaxant and as a snack to stimulate the appetite.

A strong potion prepared from the roots of the huizache is consumed diluted in water to relieve vaginal hemorrhoids. The macerated fruit is applied on the teeth to strengthen the teeth and soothe ulcers or mouth fires.

Ripe and dried fruits of huizache (Acacia farnesiana). Source: Philmarin

Likewise, with the maceration of the fruit, an ointment with an antispasmodic effect is obtained, which, applied on the nape and forehead, relieves headache. Finally, green fruit tea is used as an astringent and regulates mucosal and skin abscesses.

Conservation

The huizache grows on sandy and stony soils that, due to their high porosity conditions, are relatively dry. Due to its high level of adaptation, this species is planted under these conditions to consolidate sandy areas and arid or sterile soils.

It is a species used to establish living fences in cultivated lands and to separate paddocks or pastures. Due to its large number of thorns, it becomes an impenetrable fence.

Toxicity

The various species of the genus Acacia, including Acacia farnesiana, contain certain cyanogenic glycosides and derivatives of dimethyltryptamine in their bark, leaves and seeds. The uncontrolled ingestion of these substances can cause serious toxicity problems in the body and, therefore, in the health of the consumer.

References

1. Acacia farnesiana (1998) Tree and Shrub Species for the Arid and Semi-arid Zones of Latin America. Latin American Network for Technical Cooperation in Agroforestry Systems. Recovered at: fao.org
2. Acacia farnesiana. (2019). Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Recovered at: es.wikipedia.org
3. Mondragón Pichardo, J. (2009) Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. Huizache. Mexican weeds. Recovered at: conabio.gob.mx
4. Parrotta, JA (2000). Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd. Aroma, huisache. Bioecology of native and exotic trees of Puerto Rico and the West Indies. General Technical Report IITF-115. USDA Forest Service International Institute of Tropical Forestry, Río Piedras, PR, 6-10.
5. Rojas-Rodríguez, F., & Torres-Córdoba, G. (2012). Trees of the Central Valley of Costa Rica: reproduction Aromo (Acacia farnesiana). Mesoamerican Forestry Journal Kurú, 9 (22), Page-66.
6. Ross, JH (1975). The typification of Mimosa farnesiana. Bothalia, 11 (4), 471-472.