Quebracho

Star

Lysiloma divaricatum

Family: Fabaceae Genus: Lysiloma Species: divaricatum

Synonyms: Acacia arborea, Lysiloma microphyllum, Lysiloma chiapense, Lysiloma cayucense, Lysiloma calderonii, Lysiloma kellermanii, Lysiloma australe, Mimosa divaricata, Lysiloma affine, Lysiloma pueblense, Lysiloma seemannii, Lysiloma salvadorense, Lysiloma ortegae, Acacia divaricata

Quebracho
Quebracho

Western Herbalism Properties

Actions:
astringent

Traditional Uses

In Mexican folk medicine, particularly among tribes of Sonora, the tannin-rich bark of mauto/quebracho (Lysiloma divaricatum) is used as an astringent remedy for gastrointestinal disorders such as diarrhea and dysentery and for mucosal complaints (Yetman & Van Devender; ethnobotanical survey of Sonoran gastrointestinal folk medicines, Castillo-Quan et al., 2007 / PubMed 17881152).

Botanical Description

Lysiloma divaricatum, known in Mexico as mauto and elsewhere as quebracho or tepeguaje, is a small to medium-sized deciduous tree of the legume family (Fabaceae), reaching up to about 15 m with a densely branched, open, spreading crown and greyish, fissured bark. The leaves are large and twice-pinnately compound (bipinnate), divided into many pairs of pinnae each bearing numerous small, oblong leaflets, giving a fine, feathery, fern-like appearance; they are typically shed in the dry season. The flowers are small, with numerous projecting white to creamy stamens, gathered into rounded, fluffy, pompon-like heads. The fruit is a flattened, papery, dark legume pod that splits at maturity to release several seeds. Native to Mexico and Central America, it is a characteristic component of tropical and subtropical dry deciduous forest, mixed pine forest, and thorn scrub, often on rocky slopes and well-drained soils, where it is valued for timber, fuelwood, and its tannin-rich bark.

Native Region: Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southeast, Mexico Southwest, Nicaragua

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.

📝 Notes

Public notes from the community and your own private notes on Quebracho.

No notes yet.

Log in or register to add your own notes.

Back to Herb Database