Redbud trees belong to the genus Cercis, which includes deciduous trees from North America, Asia and the Mediterranean area. The leaves on redbuds are heart-shaped and produce fiery fall colors in red and yellow. The flowers are typically bright and range from pale pink to purple and magenta.
Digestion of starch and other carbohydrates begins in the mouth with an enzyme called salivary amylase.
Salivary glands secrete salivary amylase, an enzyme that begins the breakdown of starch into glucose. Mucus moistens food and lubricates the esophagus. Bicarbonate ions in saliva neutralize the acids in foods. Swallowing moves food from the mouth through the pharynx into the esophagus and then to the stomach.