Primitive Archer
Main Discussion Area => Arrows => Topic started by: JackCrafty on December 29, 2010, 01:33:39 pm
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It's called poverty weed or Roosevelt weed. I wish I had discovered this plant years ago. I know a lot of you guys from Texas have probably seen it but there's not a lot of talk about it. I think it's seriously under-utilized. It is easy to cut and process when green and hardens nicely when dry. I haven't had any problems with checking and it can be hand-straightened without heat if it's not too crooked. I grabbed some on my Christmas road trip. A good portion will be waste unless you're very careful when selecting the shoots.
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/2010-12-28-Poverty%20Weed/DSC_0084.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/2010-12-28-Poverty%20Weed/DSC_0082.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/2010-12-28-Poverty%20Weed/DSC_0085.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/2010-12-28-Poverty%20Weed/DSC_0087.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/2010-12-28-Poverty%20Weed/DSC_0091.jpg)
(http://i246.photobucket.com/albums/gg112/jackcrafty/2010-12-28-Poverty%20Weed/DSC_0093.jpg)
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Hey Patrick! Looks like willow in the first pic. Looks very usable though, good luck.
Tracy
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Patrick,
I know this is a really old post but I was curious if you had made any more arrows out of poverty weed since? How long did you let them dry out and did you leave the bark on? This stuff is everywhere and would be really easy to obtain.
Thanks,
Matt
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I thought it was called seep willow.
Yes, I would like to some you may have finished.
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Looks like some Very promising stuff. Just a thought as a farmer and for the environment please leave any seeds if any there. Usually stuff that's everywhere can become envasive real fast.
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Looks a lot like dog fennel. I was wondering ifanything could be made from it.
Jim L.
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When I was younger the Old Cowboy ranchers where I'm from called it desert willow.
I don't know it's proper name.
I've always wondered if it would make an arrow.
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Hi guys. This is a really old thread!
So, have I made any arrows from this lately?... nope. But I've harvested some and looked at it and said to myself, "Self, this looks like too much work right now, so skip it."
;D
I made some arrows from this in the past and they worked well. The shafts can be hand straightened or heat straightened... a lot like birch but lighter. I've been doing a lot of reading on desert southwest arrows made from this stuff and it goes by many names. Most sources call it desert broom. It's known as poverty weed or Roosevelt weed to the botanists. But archaeologists call it desert broom, arrow weed, greasewood, and probably a couple other names....all inaccurate. (edited)
It grows in the worst soil conditions, is drought tolerant, and can be found along roadsides thoughtout most of Texas. Choose shoots that are 1/2" thick on the fat end and cut it as long as possible... 30" or more if you can. It dries quick, about two months with the bark off. I don't know about bark-on drying because I always peel it right away. I toss out any that split... maybe 1 out of 5 will split.
I would love to make more arrows and foreshafts from this stuff but it's time consuming because of all the little kinks that need to be removed when straightening. But once you get it straight and sanded down, it works great. It's great for basketry too, by the way, after soaking in water.
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Just made a new video on greasewood as it relates to Apache arrows. Poverty weed gets confused with grease wood (google images) so I made the video of my experience with greasewood, poverty weed, Apache arrow making, and such.
https://youtu.be/SBdR1SEUaIk