Acacia berlandieri

As most of you know, I randomly browse places like Wikipedia looking for something new to learn. Today I came across something that I thought would make you say 'well, now that's interesting'.

Today we learn about Acacia. I came across the Wikipedia page about the bean/blossom shrub Acacia berlandieri from Southwest US.

1. It's toxic to goats. You heard me right - it's something goats can't eat.
2. In a recent study, researchers identified thirty-one alkaloids in samples of plant foliage, including trace amounts of five amphetamines previously believed to be human inventions:^[5] amphetamine, methamphetamine, N,N-dimethylamphetamine, p-hydroxyamphetamine and p-methoxyamphetamine. Other trace alkaloids include DMT (found in many related species), nicotine, and mescaline (found in many cacti but infrequently in other plants).
3. If you click on the link to the Genus 'Acacia' you'll see that some of the food uses include Fresca, Barqs and Altoids.
4. In The Bible, burning of acacia wood as a form of incense is mentioned several times.
5. The Acacia is used as a symbol in Freemasonry, to represent purity and endurance of the soul, and as funerary symbolism signifying resurrection and immortality.
6. Smoke from Acacia bark is thought to keep demons and ghosts away and to put the gods in a good mood.
7. According to Easton's Bible Dictionary, the Acacia tree may be the “burning bush” (Exodus 3:2) which Moses encountered in the desert.^[10]
8. According to the Book of Exodus, this was used in the construction of the Ark of the Covenant.
9. Egyptian mythology has associated the acacia tree with characteristics of the tree of life (cf. article on the Legend of Osiris and Isis).
10. if exposed to an enzyme which specifically splits glycosides, can release hydrogen cyanide (HCN) in the acacia "leaves."^[60]
    

Apparently, it still can't beat the Venus Fly Trap for meat consumption rates.