Getting Water From Plants

Water From Plants

Water Collectors... Cup shaped plants and cavities between the leaves of bromides (many of which are parasitic on the branches of tropical trees) often collect a reservoir of water.
       Bamboo often holds water in its hollow joints. Old and yellow stems are more likely to be water bearing. Shake them, if you can hear water slurping around cut a notch at the bottom of each joint and tip the water out.

 *  Ttraveller's Tree Ravenala madagascariensis, one of the banana family, can hold 2-4 pints of water between the bases of the chevron of leaf stalks.

Vines... Vines with rough bark and shoots about 2 inches thick can be a useful source of water. But you must learn by experience which are the water bearing vines, because not all have drinkable water and some have poisonous sap. The poisonous ones yield a sticky, milky sap when cut. You will know not to try that type again. Otherwise it is a matter of trial and error and worth trying any species.
      Some vines cause a skin irritation on contact if you suck them, so it Is better to let the liquid drip into your mouth rather than put your mouth to the stem, and preferable to collect it in a container.
     To obtain water from a vine select a particular stem and trace it upwards. Reach as high as possible and cut a deep notch in the stem. Cut off the same stem close to the ground and let the water drip from it into your mouth or into a container. When it stops dripping  cut a section from the bottom of the vine first as this will cause the liquid to run up the vine through capillary action.

Roots...  In Australia the water tree, Desert Oak and Bloodwood have their roots near the surface. Pry these roots out from the ground and cut them up into 12 inch lengths. Remove the bark. Suck out the moisture or shave to a pulp and squeeze over the mouth.
     It is not easy to find some of the most useful desert roots unless you have been shown by someone with experience. Australian Aborigines can identify a tiny twig which grows from a football like bulbous root, which can be a life saver. But unless you have been shown how to find them it is not worth expending your energy and resources looking.

Palms... The Buri, Coconut and Nipa palms all contain a sugary fluid which is very drinkable. To start it flowing bend a flowering stalk downwards and cut off its tip. If a thin slice is cut off the stalk every 12 hours the flow will be renewed, making it possible to collect up to a quart each day. Nipa palms shoot from the base so that you can work from ground level, on grown trees of other species you may have to climb up them to reach a flowering stalk.
     Coconut milk has considerable water content, but from ripe nuts it is a powerful laxative and drinking too much would make you lose more fluids.


Nipa Palm



Buri Palm



Cacti...  Both the fruit and bodies of cacti store water, but not all cacti produce liquid safe to drink. The Saquarro, the giant multi fingered cactus of Arizona, is VERY Poisonous. Take Care to avoid contact with cactus spines, they can be very difficult to remove, especially the very ine hair like ones, and can cause festering sores if thy stay in the skin.
 

Saquarro Cactus

*Fun fact about the Saquarro cactus: Sereus giganteus of Mexico, Arizona and California, grows to 17 feet high and holds large amounts of fluid-But it is extremely poisonous. Collect and place in a solar still to evaporate and recondense during the cold night.



    The Barrel cactus Echinocactus grusoni can reach a height of 4ft tall, and is found in the southern United States through to South America and requires a considerable effort to cut through its tough spine covered outer skin. The best method is to cut off the top and chop out pieces from the inside to suck, or to smash the pulp within the plant and scoop out the water sap, which varies from tasteless in some plants to bitter in others. An average sized 3 1/2 foot Barrel cactus will yield about 1 liter of milky juice and the is an exception to the rule to avoid milky sapped plants.

Barrel Cactus

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