FIGURE 22.—Mescalbean (Sophora secundiflora), a southwestern shrub or small tree. The 
large woody pods, satiny outside, are about 2 to 4 inches long and contain one to four 
bright, scarlet, marblelike seeds that are virulently poisonous 
_ Mescalbean occurs from Texas to southern New Mexico and south 
into Mexico, being shrubby in the foothills and mountains. It is 
especially characteristic of dry limestone hills, particularly in 
