Question

The Cahuilla tribe was a Native American community that lived in the arid area near present day San Diego. The Cahuilla's diet relied heavily upon mesquite beans. In order to preserve the plants only a portion of the beans that were available to harvest were harvested. Why were some of the harvestable beans left on the plant?
A) for wildlife to eat
B) for later harvest
C) to grow into new plants
D) lack of room in the harvest basket

Answer 1

For wildlife to eat is my answer

Answer 2

The correct option is c, to grow new plants.

People in the Cahuilla tribe depended mostly on desert plants for their food.  Acorns were popular as the oak trees could not grow in desert areas. The common food for these tribes included the fruit of mesquite tree. During the spring season mesquite blossomed which was eaten by boiling. During summers the pods which were green was used as a drink by grinding. After the pods dried they were eaten from the tree directly or made mesquite cakes which could be stored for long time. In all the conditions and seasons, not all the beans were harvested but a portion was left in the plant so as to let them grow into new  plants and trees.