''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family

Simaroubaceae The Simaroubaceae 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 phylogeny of the family was published in 200 ...

. Members of the genus are native to the

Americas The Americas, which are sometimes collectively called America, are a landmass comprising the totality of North and South America. The Americas make up most of the land in Earth's Western Hemisphere and comprise the New World. Along with th ...

, 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, Mi ...

. ''Castela'' is

dioecious Dioecy (; ; adj. dioecious , ) is a characteristic of a species, meaning that it has distinct individual organisms (unisexual) that produce male or female gametes, either directly (in animals) or indirectly (in seed plants). Dioecious reproductio ...

, 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 ''Castela emoryi'', with the common names crucifixion thorn, Emory's crucifixion-thorn, and es, chaparro amargosa, is a shrub species in the genus ''Castela'' of the family (biology), family Simaroubaceae. Distribution The plant is native to ...

'' (A.Gray) Moran & Felger – Crucifixion thorn *''

Castela erecta ''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel. '' ...

'' Turp. – Goatbush *''

Castela galapageia ''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel. ''C ...

'' – Bitterbush *''

Castela jacquiniifolia ''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel. '' ...

'' (Small) Ekman ex Urb. *''

Castela leonis ''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel. '' ...

'' Acuña & Roíg *''

Castela macrophylla ''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel. '' ...

'' Urb. *''

Castela peninsularis ''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel. '' ...

'' Rose *''

Castela polyandra ''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel. '' ...

'' Moran & Felger *''

Castela retusa ''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel. '' ...

'' Liebm. *''

Castela spinosa ''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel. '' ...

'' Cronquist *''

Castela stewartii ''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel. '' ...

'' (C.H.Müll.) Moran & Felger *''

Castela tortuosa ''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel. '' ...

'' Liebm. *''

Castela tweediei ''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel. '' ...

'' Planch. *''

Castela victorinii ''Castela'' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel. '' ...

'' Acuña & Roíg

References

External links

Jepson Manual Treatment
Simaroubaceae Sapindales genera Dioecious plants {{Sapindales-stub