Byrsonima lucida

locust-berry

Locustberry is a plant rich in tannins, which led to its use in curing hides, treating dysentery and making colorfast dyes across its native Caribbean range. In dyeing, the plant is used as the mordant. This term was derived from the French mordre, which means “to bite” because the mordant helps the actual color to hold fast to the fabric. One type of mordant may be chosen over another because it produces a stronger hold for a given fabric or because it alters the color in a desirable way. Natives frequently used tannin-rich plants for dye preparations, either on their own or mixed with other colorful ingredients, which were often acquired from fruits or tree sap. Today, mordants are used for more than dyeing fabrics. They play a similar role in the dyeing of plant and animal tissues for microscopic evaluation.

The edible fruits also contain a significant level of tannins, which makes them a bit astringent. Other uses for the plant include treatment of fevers, catarrh and snakebite.

Locustberry is a Florida Keys native, so it is well adapted to sunshine, seasonal drought, and salty breezes.