The desert plants gathered by the Hohokam - and later the Tohono O'odham - for food, medicine, tools and other things are still around. Even so, many contemporary Tucsonans don't recognize their uses.

These Yuccas looks exactly like the yuccas on our property. Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. The Yucca* (yucca elata) is a perennial plant that is known as the soap tree. It is native to southwestern ...

I also encountered the Mexican blue palm (Brahea armata), but had to pick the fruit too early, resulting in a tasteless pulp. The hard seeds, which were historically consumed, are something I plan to ...