TEJOCOTE: CHARACTERISTICS, HABITAT, CULTIVATION, PROPERTIES, CONTRAINDICATIONS - BIOLOGY - 2025

The tejocote (Crataegus mexicana) is a perennial tree species belonging to the Rosaceae family. It is native to Mexico and is commonly known as Manzanita or Indian apple.

It is a tree about 8 m high, provides good shade and has many thorns. The leaves are alternate, simple, rhomboid shaped, ovate or oblong. The flowers are grouped in corymbs and are white.

Tejocote or Indian apple. Source: Bernard Spragg. NZ from Christchurch, New Zealand

The fruits are the most striking part of this species thanks to its yellow-orange color. Its shape is very similar to apples and some varieties of guava. It has a bittersweet taste and has a very particular aroma.

Its wood is used to make tool handles and as firewood. In addition, it is a useful species as an ornamental in landscape designs. It also has other uses, such as animal fodder, and its healthy trees are also used as a pattern for fruit trees such as pears, medlars, apple trees, among others.

It has many medicinal properties as a dewormer, diuretic, antidiabetic, to treat coughs, diarrhea, as well as heart problems. However, there are some contraindications to its use. For example, pregnant and lactating women should not consume this fruit, and its roots should not be mixed with any type of alcoholic beverage.

Its use is very characteristic during the Day of the Dead festival or Catrinas during the tribute that is made to loved ones during that event. It is also common in the winter season, as it is an ingredient in many recipes, such as Christmas punch.

characteristics

Traditional sweet of tejocote in Mexico. Source: Wotancito

Appearance

It is a tree up to 8 m tall, with moderate growth and a longevity of up to 40 years.

This tree has many thorns and provides good shade.

Leaves

The leaves of this tree are petiolate, alternate, non-compound, rhomboid-elliptical, ovate or oblong. They measure between 3 and 11 cm long by 1.5 cm wide. Its apex is acute and the margin is serrated or serrated.

The base of the leaf blade is cuneate, its upper surface is dark green, devoid of pubescence, and the underside is a paler green. These leaves serve as forage.

flowers

The flowers are grouped in corymb-like inflorescences with few flowers. They have 5 lanceolate sepals, about 5 mm long. Likewise, they have 5 white petals that measure approximately 1 cm.

Flowering occurs from January to April.

Fruit

The fruit is very similar to a small yellow-orange apple and is between 2 and 3 cm wide.

The rind of the fruit is tasteless and rough, while the pulp has a bittersweet taste and is thick. It is consumed as jam or as natural fruit.

Fruiting begins in spring and fruit ripening occurs from November to December.

Seeds

The seeds are smooth and brownish-brown in color, and are contained in a fiber pit that contains between 4 and 6 seeds. They are also called tejocote heart. The seeds of the tejocote are the basis of the drug Alipotec.

Nutritional composition

The Indian apple is rich in vitamin C, which increases the body's defenses and prevents diseases. Calcium is another element in tejocote, being ideal for the growth and strengthening of bones.

Another element is iron, very important for the production of hemoglobin and its effect on people. The B complex vitamins are also part of this fruit and help in the formation of red blood cells.

Taxonomy

-Kingdom: Plantae

-Filo: Tracheophyta

-Class: Magnoliopsida

-Order: Rosales

-Family: Rosaceae

-Gender: Crataegus

-Species: Crataegus mexicana

The tejocote has some synonyms such as Anthomeles subserrata, Crataegus nelsonii, Crataegus stipulosa, Crataegus subserrata, Mespilus stipulosa, Phaenopyrum mexicanum.

Habitat and distribution

The tejocote is a species that is associated with coniferous forests, Quercus forests, pine-oak forests and tropical sub-deciduous forests.

Its distribution ranges from 2200 to 3000 meters above sea level. In Mexico, this tree is found in the Valley of Mexico, the Federal District, Morelos, Hidalgo, Puebla, Veracruz, Jalisco and Michoacán. Likewise, there are reports of its presence in Chiapas, Oaxaca, Sinaloa and Guerrero.

In the same way, this tree can be found in other places such as Guatemala and El Salvador.

It grows in soils with a loamy-clay texture, with stoniness, preferably with a pH of 6.5 to 7.5. It adapts to poor soils and tolerates excess humidity.

In the places where it lives there is an average temperature of 15 to 18 ° C, a maximum of 37 ° C and a minimum of 1 ° C. Precipitation occurs between 600 and 1200 mm per year.

This species demands light, tolerates low temperatures and floods and droughts.

Culture

Tejocote tree. Source: Daniel Manrique ()

Multiplication

Tejocote can be spread sexually or asexually. To produce it from seeds, these must be collected from an individual free of pests and diseases, with a vigorous bearing and that has a good production of fruits.

Under these conditions, the collected seeds could have a 60% germination, although the lethargy can last between 2 or 3 years and a slight stratification is required. For better germination it is advisable to remove the endocarp from the seed.

The seeds are collected from October to December. It should be taken into account that the fruits are harvested when they have a reddish-yellow color. In a kilo of fruits there can be about 6000 kg of seeds. The fruits can be collected from the ground or directly from the tree.

For its part, asexual propagation can be from layers, cuttings, twigs and stakes. This type of propagation can be carried out in the months of November to December. The stakes are recommended to be obtained with several internodes and about 30 cm long. Useful structures can be semi-woody branches that are about a year old.

The production time of this tree ranges from 5 to 9 months.

Irrigation

When once the crop is established, the irrigation required is the minimum (when the substrate or soil is dry).

Fertilization

This species does not require specific fertilization for its production.

Weeding

The first 2 years of planting it is advisable to weed around the plants, about 20 cm around and once a year. Preferably 15 days or a week before the rainy season begins.

Properties

Fruit of the tejocote. Source: Daniel Manrique ()

Tejocote has both medicinal and diuretic properties, such as to control diarrhea, to treat coughs or for heart problems.

The fruits are used cooked to combat coughs, pneumonia, colds or bronchitis. The amount of 5 fruits can be cooked in a cup of water, sweetened with honey and consumed for about nine days three times a day.

In cases of acute cough, the tejocote should be cooked with elder flowers, custard apple peel and cinnamon. For pneumonia and to treat asthma, a cooking of eucalyptus, tejocote, bougainvillea, elderberry, cocoon bark, obelisk flowers and mullein is prepared.

To combat diarrhea and stomach pain, the leaves and bark are used as an infusion.

Tejocote tea combined with other herbs like chamomile is used to treat parasites such as worms and pinworms. While for amebiasis, the tea should be prepared with pieces of tejocote root and about 5 fruits in half a liter of water.

In addition, the root is useful for its antidiabetic properties, and for this purpose it is consumed macerated. To treat kidney problems, take 5 g of the root in a quarter of water and prepare a cooking.

Likewise, the flowers and leaves are useful for treating low blood pressure, cardiac problems and for detoxifying the body.

Applications

It is a melliferous species. Its wood is useful for firewood and for making tool handles. The fruits are eaten raw or can be prepared in sweets and jams. These contain a high concentration of pectin, which is widely used to make cosmetics, as a coagulant in jams, in the pharmaceutical, textile and steel industries.

Tejocote is also a species that serves as fodder for animals such as pigs, sheep, goats, rabbits.

Healthy trees are used as rootstock for grafting other fruit trees such as apple, pear, medlar, peach and others.

Likewise, the tejocote is a very ornamental species, useful both for decoration and for providing shade. It can even be used as a natural Christmas tree. Its use is also very common on the Day of the Dead festival in Mexico.

Contraindications

The use of tejocote is not recommended during pregnancy or during breastfeeding, since no studies have been conducted in this regard. The root of this plant should not be given to children under 12 years of age.

On the other hand, people with pre-existing liver or kidney diseases should avoid consuming this fruit.

Side effects

It is not advisable to consume the root on an empty stomach, nor to mix it with any type of alcoholic beverage. It is required to ingest 2 to 3 liters of water when you are under treatment with tejocote root.

References

1. Núñez-Colín, CA 2009. The Tejocote (Crataegus Species): a Mexican Plant Genetic Resource that Is Wasted. A Review. Proc. IS on Underutilized Plants. Eds.: Jaenicke et al. Acta Hort. 806: 339-346.
2. SIRE Technology Parks. 2019. Crataegus mexicana Moc. Sessé. Taken from: conafor.gob.mx:8080
3. Tejocotes. 2019. Tejocotes, benefits and properties-Illustrated Encyclopedia. Taken from: tejocotes.com
4. Herbal Safety. 2019. Tejocote. The University of Texas At El Paso. Taken from: utep.edu
5. Catalog of Life: 2019 Annual Checklist. Species details: Crataegus mexicana Moc. & Sesse ex DC. Taken from: catalogueoflife.org