''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family
Simaroubaceae
The Simaroubaceae, also known as the quassia family, are a small, mostly tropical, family in the order Sapindales. In recent decades, it has been subject to much taxonomic debate, with several small families being split off. A molecular phyloge ...
. Members of the genus are native to the
Americas
The Americas, sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North America and South America.''Webster's New World College Dictionary'', 2010 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio. When viewed as a sing ...
, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist
René Richard Louis Castel
René Richard Louis Castel (6 October 1758 in Vire – 15 June 1832 in Reims) was a French poet and naturalist.
The genus '' Castela'' was named after him, honoring his works in botany.
Associated works
* ''Les Plantes, poëme'', Paris, Migner ...
. ''Castela'' is
dioecious
Dioecy ( ; ; adj. dioecious, ) is a characteristic of certain species that have distinct unisexual individuals, each producing either male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproduction is ...
, with male and female flowers on separate plants.
Species
There are 17 accepted species:
["''Castela'' Turpin". ''Plants of the World Online'', Kew Science. Accessed 6 October 2021.]
*''
Castela calcicola''
(Britton & Small) Ekman ex Urb.
*''
Castela coccinea''
Griseb.
*''
Castela depressa''
Turpin
*''
Castela emoryi''
(A.Gray) Moran & Felger – Crucifixion thorn
*''
Castela erecta''
Turp. – Goatbush
*''
Castela galapageia'' – Bitterbush
*''
Castela jacquiniifolia''
(Small) Ekman ex Urb.
*''
Castela leonis''
Acuña & Roíg
*''
Castela macrophylla''
Urb.
*''
Castela peninsularis''
Rose
*''
Castela polyandra''
Moran & Felger
*''
Castela retusa''
Liebm.
*''
Castela spinosa''
Cronquist
*''
Castela stewartii''
(C.H.Müll.) Moran & Felger
*''
Castela tortuosa''
Liebm.
*''
Castela tweediei''
Planch.
*''
Castela victorinii''
Acuña & Roíg
References
External links
*
*
Jepson Manual Treatment
Simaroubaceae
Sapindales genera
Dioecious plants
{{Sapindales-stub