Greetings! I am currently harvesting a massive amount of Desmanthus Illioensis root, as the plant grows all over where I live. As I process the root and strip the bark, Ive noted something you may find interesting. Approximately 1 out of 20 mature plants have root bark that differs in color.
I only pull up mature plants where the seed bundle has turned black and the plant is generally finished and ready to drop.
Being a perennial, I only pull up plants that have been around a few years, have been cut back by the city maintenance crews, and have a thick root ball and thick meaty roots. First season plants have small roots and are better off cut back and allowed to grow a few more times. This creates a thicker root and, Im guessing, more of the sought after alkaloid.
So I noticed that the inner bark of the bigger roots has a distinct and familiar color to it. It is the same pinkish/purplish color found in MHRB. A good sign I hope.
But about 1 out of 20 plants or so, the root seems to lack this color entirely. Instead it is just an off white color, similar to the inner root. I decided to discard the ones I found in favor of the ones with color. The ones without the color were mature too, but usually not as much as the ones with the color. Hence, allowing the plant time to regrow a few times prior to harvest. Hoping to gain some insight during this experiment and will post the results and the entire process, as there is a giant lack of actual info on this particular plant. Surprising since its been in the literature for decades and, at least where I live, it is EVERYWHERE! And abundant too. We shall see. Cheers!