Castela emoryi, with the common names crucifixion thorn, Emory's crucifixion-thorn, and , is a shrub species in the genus Castela of the family Simaroubaceae.
Distribution The plant is native to the Mojave Desert and Sonoran Deserts of North America.
It is found in southern California, Arizona, and Sonora state (México).
The species is dioecious and occurs in the moistest areas in the hottest, driest deserts within its range; it is considered poor in germination.
Description Castela emoryi is often less than , and occasionally to grows or more.CalFlora: Castela emoryi
Crucifixion thorn is mostly leafless, its sharp branches are green and perform photosynthesis. Seeds are contained in clusters of fruit in groups of 5. The fruit is tan, green, red or brown in color, turning black with age, and may persist on the tree for several years.
It is ranked on the California Native Plant Society Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants, as an endangered species within California, and more common elsewhere.California Native Plant Society−CNPS, Inventory of Rare and Endangered Plants: Castela emoryi . accessed 9.9.2015. It is threatened by solar energy development and military activities within its California range. The species is classified as "Salvage restricted" in Arizona.
Ecology Castela emoryi is one of the few plants in its habitat that blooms in the mid-summer heat, and serves as an important source of resources for insects during that time. Its nectar is collected by ants, and pollination is performed by wasps and bees, particularly bumblebees.
Uses The Yavapai people traditionally used this as a medicinal plant, making a dermatological aid from its bud's sap.University of Michigan at Dearborn: Native American Ethnobotany for Castela emoryi
Insecticide and fungicide Castela emoryi is a . It contains quassinoids such as glaucarubolone glucoside which has antifeedant properties against termites such as Reticulitermes flavipes,Antifeedant properties of natural products from Parthenium argentatum, Parthenium argentatum, ×Parthenium tomentosum (Asteraceae) and Castela emoryi (Simaroubeaceae) against Reticulitermes flavipes. Carmen Gutiérrez, Azucena Gonzalez-Coloma and Joseph J. Hoffmann, Industrial Crops and Products, Volume 10, Issue 1, June 1999, Pages 35–40, or potential fungicidal activity for the control of grape downy mildew.Glaucarubolone glucoside, a potential fungicidal agent for the control of grape downy mildew. Joseph J. Hoffmann, Shivanand D. Jolad, Louis K. Hutter, Steven P. McLaughlin, Steven D. Savage, Scott D. Cunningham, Jean Luc. Genet and George R. Ramsey, J. Agric. Food Chem., 1992, 40 (6), pages 1056–1057,
It also contains glaucarubol, a compound characteristic of the family, ellagic acid, betulin and (—)-syringaresinol.Constituents of holacantha emoryi. W. Stöcklin, L.B. De Silva and T.A. Geissman, Phytochemistry, Volume 8, Issue 8, August 1969, Pages 1565–1569,
References
External links
CalFlora Database: Castela emoryi (Cricifixion Thorn) Jepson Flora Project treatment of Castela emoryi UC Photos gallery — Castela emoryi