The word “Pinon,” usually pronounced “Pin yun” …describes one of the smallest pine trees of the pine tree species (Pinus edulis) native to the Southwestern United States, but this word has been adapted in the Southwest to include small oak and other species of trees. The word Pinon means “pine nut” in Spanish and is a derivative of the Latin meaning pinea. The Pinon Oak is of the species Quercus Arizonica, which is a ‘white oak’ tree. Small but beautiful!
The Oak Tree, including the Pinon Oak, is considered a medicine tree by many Native American tribes, associated with strength and protection. Individual oak trees of great size and longevity have always been considered sacred by Native Americans and were used as spiritual and civic centers for important tribal gatherings such as weddings, peace conferences, and naming ceremonies.
Oak trees are also used as a clan symbol in some Native American cultures. So, imagine that some Native American Indian couple may have been married in your yard a thousand years ago!
Regardless of the history, this is the predominant tree in the subdivision, mostly in the part south of Pioneer Parkway. My husband and I just love them… he especially, because he comes from a Midwest Farm named “Oak Grove Farm.”
Piñon noun pi·ñon| \ ˈpin-ˌyōn ,-ˌyän, -yən; pin-ˈyōn\ Variants: or pinyon plural piñons or pinyons or piñones\ pin-ˈyō- nēz \
Definition of the word piñon: Latin/Spanish derivative for any of various small pines (such as Pinus quadrifolia, P. cembroides, P. edulis, and P. monophylla) of western North America with edible seeds also: the edible seed of a piñon
The Pinon Oak acorn “nut” that the Pinon Oak sheds so abundantly, is edible. The “nut” or acorn, was one of the largest sources of food for the Native Indian tribe around here, of course supplemented with meat from hunting and fish.
HOWEVER, the acorn must be ground or cracked, soaked in water, “blanched” and soaked again and again in water until the water is clear to remove the tannin from the nut. The tannin will make you sick, so the repeated blanching must be done over and over until the water comes out clear.
Native American Indians virtually lived off these acorns in the past supplementing them with hunting and fishing and still eat them whole today. The tannin doesn’t seem to bother them; however, it will make most others who aren’t used of eating them sick if they are not processed as above.
If you’re looking at moving to Prescott, Arizona… take a gander at Pinon Oaks… you won’t regret it.