7,617
edits
Changes
From Gardenology.org - Plant Encyclopedia and Gardening Wiki
Jump to navigationJump to searchno edit summary
{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Choisya''
| image = Choisya ternata2.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Choisya ternata'' in flower
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Sapindales]]
| familia = [[Rutaceae]]
| genus = '''''Choisya'''''
| genus_authority = H.B. & K.
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 7-9 species, including:<br/>
''Choisya arizonica''<br/>
''Choisya dumosa''<br/>
''Choisya ternata''
}}
{{commons|Choisya_ternata|Choisya ternata}}
'''''Choisya''''' ('''Starleaf''' or '''Mexican Orange''') is a small genus of aromatic [[evergreen]] [[shrub]]s in the family [[Rutaceae]], native to southern [[North America]] from the southwest [[United States]] ([[Arizona]], [[New Mexico]], [[Texas]]) and south through most of [[Mexico]].
The species grow to 1-3 m tall. The [[Leaf|leaves]] are opposite, leathery, glossy, palmately compound with 3-13 leaflets, each leaflet 3-8 cm long and 0.5-3.5 cm broad. The [[flower]]s are star-shaped, 3-5 cm diameter, with 4-7 white [[petal]]s, 8-15 [[stamen]]s and a green [[carpel|stigma]]; they are produced throughout the late spring and summer. The [[fruit]] is a leathery two to six sectioned [[capsule (fruit)|capsule]].
The name 'Starleaf' refers to the palmate leaves, while 'Mexican Orange' refers to its flowers being similar to those of the closely related [[Orange (fruit)|Orange]], both in shape and scent.
The species vary in the number and shape of the leaflets, with three broad leaflets in ''C. ternata'', and up to 13 very narrow leaflets in ''C. dumosa''.
===Cultivation and uses===
''Choisya'' is a popular [[ornamental plant]] in areas with mild winters, grown for its strongly aromatic foliage and flowers. The flowers are also vaued for [[bee]] forage, producing abundant [[nectar]].
[[Category:rutaceae]]
| color = lightgreen
| name = ''Choisya''
| image = Choisya ternata2.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = ''Choisya ternata'' in flower
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Sapindales]]
| familia = [[Rutaceae]]
| genus = '''''Choisya'''''
| genus_authority = H.B. & K.
| subdivision_ranks = Species
| subdivision =
About 7-9 species, including:<br/>
''Choisya arizonica''<br/>
''Choisya dumosa''<br/>
''Choisya ternata''
}}
{{commons|Choisya_ternata|Choisya ternata}}
'''''Choisya''''' ('''Starleaf''' or '''Mexican Orange''') is a small genus of aromatic [[evergreen]] [[shrub]]s in the family [[Rutaceae]], native to southern [[North America]] from the southwest [[United States]] ([[Arizona]], [[New Mexico]], [[Texas]]) and south through most of [[Mexico]].
The species grow to 1-3 m tall. The [[Leaf|leaves]] are opposite, leathery, glossy, palmately compound with 3-13 leaflets, each leaflet 3-8 cm long and 0.5-3.5 cm broad. The [[flower]]s are star-shaped, 3-5 cm diameter, with 4-7 white [[petal]]s, 8-15 [[stamen]]s and a green [[carpel|stigma]]; they are produced throughout the late spring and summer. The [[fruit]] is a leathery two to six sectioned [[capsule (fruit)|capsule]].
The name 'Starleaf' refers to the palmate leaves, while 'Mexican Orange' refers to its flowers being similar to those of the closely related [[Orange (fruit)|Orange]], both in shape and scent.
The species vary in the number and shape of the leaflets, with three broad leaflets in ''C. ternata'', and up to 13 very narrow leaflets in ''C. dumosa''.
===Cultivation and uses===
''Choisya'' is a popular [[ornamental plant]] in areas with mild winters, grown for its strongly aromatic foliage and flowers. The flowers are also vaued for [[bee]] forage, producing abundant [[nectar]].
[[Category:rutaceae]]
