All plants /Tree /Anacua
Anacua
Ehretia anacua, borage family. Uncommon in West and Central Texas.
At a glance
- What
- Small orange-yellow fruit
- How
- Raw
- When
- Spring and again in fall
- Where
- South and Central Texas brushland
- Value
- Sugars
Caution: Mild and sweet, eaten fresh in small amounts. Never eat a wild plant on this guide's word alone. Confirm identity against several sources and learn the look-alikes first.
Identification
The 'sandpaper tree,' named for its rough leaves, drops fragrant white flower clusters and then sweet orange fruit that birds adore.
On the trail
A pleasant fresh nibble rather than a kitchen crop; the fruit is small and mostly seed.
Photo: Carlos Abrego, CC BY-SA 2.5, via Wikimedia Commons.
Forages well with
Forage safely. Never eat a wild plant on this site's word alone. Confirm identity with several sources, learn the look-alikes, and when in doubt, leave it in the ground.