Thamnosma montana, the turpentine broom,[1] or Mojave desert-rue, is a shrub in the citrus family Rutaceae. It is native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Except immediately after heavy rains, its straight stems usually lack leaves, giving it a broom-like appearance. The Latin specific epithetmontana refers to mountains or coming from mountains.[2]
It is a shrub with many straight, broom-like, yellow-green, 30 to 60 centimetres long. Except after heavy rains, it is usually found without leaves.
Leaves and stemsedit
Stems are speckled with resin glands. Leaves are small and occur only after rains, then fall off (drought deciduous).
Inflorescence and fruitedit
Flowers occur at intervals along the stem. Each has a greenish base of blunt sepals. The corolla is oval with rounded ends. The petals royal purple in color. Like most other parts of the plant, petals are studded with visible resin glands. The tips of the petals curve outward, revealing a protruding stigma and shorter yellow-tipped stamens.
The fruit is a leathery, yellow-green, gland-spotted capsule with two nearly separate rounded lobes. Within the capsule are pale, kidney-shaped seeds about 4 millimeters long each. The fruits are eaten by animals which then disperse the seeds.[3]
Many Native American groups used it as a ceremonial drug, and held beliefs it could be used as a medicine and for pest control.[4]
Referencesedit
^USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Thamnosma montana". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 9 December 2015.
^Archibald William Smith A Gardener's Handbook of Plant Names: Their Meanings and Origins, p. 239, at Google Books
thamnosma, montana, turpentine, broom, mojave, desert, shrub, citrus, family, rutaceae, native, deserts, southwestern, united, states, northern, mexico, except, immediately, after, heavy, rains, straight, stems, usually, lack, leaves, giving, broom, like, appe. Thamnosma montana the turpentine broom 1 or Mojave desert rue is a shrub in the citrus family Rutaceae It is native to the deserts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico Except immediately after heavy rains its straight stems usually lack leaves giving it a broom like appearance The Latin specific epithet montana refers to mountains or coming from mountains 2 Thamnosma montanaConservation statusSecure NatureServe Scientific classificationKingdom PlantaeClade TracheophytesClade AngiospermsClade EudicotsClade RosidsOrder SapindalesFamily RutaceaeGenus ThamnosmaSpecies T montanaBinomial nameThamnosma montanaTorr amp Frem Contents 1 Description 2 Leaves and stems 3 Inflorescence and fruit 4 Range and habitat 5 Uses and ecological interactions 6 References 7 External linksDescription editIt is a shrub with many straight broom like yellow green 30 to 60 centimetres long Except after heavy rains it is usually found without leaves Leaves and stems editStems are speckled with resin glands Leaves are small and occur only after rains then fall off drought deciduous Inflorescence and fruit editFlowers occur at intervals along the stem Each has a greenish base of blunt sepals The corolla is oval with rounded ends The petals royal purple in color Like most other parts of the plant petals are studded with visible resin glands The tips of the petals curve outward revealing a protruding stigma and shorter yellow tipped stamens The fruit is a leathery yellow green gland spotted capsule with two nearly separate rounded lobes Within the capsule are pale kidney shaped seeds about 4 millimeters long each The fruits are eaten by animals which then disperse the seeds 3 Range and habitat editIt grows in dry desert scrub juniper woodland and other desert plant communities It grows among desert plants such as creosote blackbrush ephedra and Yucca species such as Joshua Tree 3 Uses and ecological interactions editMany Native American groups used it as a ceremonial drug and held beliefs it could be used as a medicine and for pest control 4 References edit USDA NRCS n d Thamnosma montana The PLANTS Database plants usda gov Greensboro North Carolina National Plant Data Team Retrieved 9 December 2015 Archibald William Smith A Gardener s Handbook of Plant Names Their Meanings and Origins p 239 at Google Books a b US Forest Service Fire Ecology EthnobotanyExternal links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Thamnosma montana Jepson Manual Treatment Photo gallery nbsp This Rutaceae article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Thamnosma montana amp oldid 1110058624, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
