Choisya

Life-forms

Classification System: APG IV

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Regnum: Plantae
Cladus: Angiosperms
Cladus: Eudicots
Cladus: Core eudicots
Cladus: Rosids
Cladus: Eurosids II
Ordo: Sapindales

Familia: Rutaceae
Subfamilia: Amyridoideae
Genus: Choisya
Species: C. arizonica – C. dumosa – C. katherinae – C. neglecta – C. palmeri – C. ternata
Source(s) of checklist:

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Choisya in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2020 Jan 01. Reference page.

Name

Choisya Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. [H.B.K.] 6(pt. 24): 4 (ed. fol. & qto.) (1823)

Type species: Choisya ternata Kunth, Nov. Gen. Sp. [H.B.K.] 6(pt. 24): 4 (ed. fol. & qto.) (1823)

Synonyms

Astrophyllum Torr. & A.Gray
Juliania La Llave

Distribution
Native distribution areas:

Continental:Northern America
Arizona, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, Mexico Northwest, Mexico Southwest, New Mexico, Texas

References: Brummitt, R.K. 2001. TDWG – World Geographical Scheme for Recording Plant Distributions, 2nd Edition
References
Primary references

Humboldt, A., Bonpland, A. & Kunth, C.S. 1823–1824 ["1823"]. Nova genera et species plantarum, quas in peregrinatione orbis novi collegerunt, descripserunt, partim adumbraverunt Amat. Bonpland et Alex. de Humboldt. Tomus 6 (folio ed.). 422 pp., tt. 513–600. Apud Gide filium, Lutetiae Parisiorum [Paris]. e-rara.ch Reference page. : 6: 4

Links

Govaerts, R. et al. 2020. Choisya in Kew Science Plants of the World online. The Board of Trustees of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Published online. Accessed: 2020 Jan 01. Reference page.
International Plant Names Index. 2020. Choisya. Published online. Accessed: Jan 01 2020.
Tropicos.org 2020. Choisya. Missouri Botanical Garden. Published online. Accessed: 01 Jan 2020.
Hassler, M. 2020. Choisya. World Plants: Synonymic Checklists of the Vascular Plants of the World In: Roskovh, Y., Abucay, L., Orrell, T., Nicolson, D., Bailly, N., Kirk, P., Bourgoin, T., DeWalt, R.E., Decock, W., De Wever, A., Nieukerken, E. van, Zarucchi, J. & Penev, L., eds. 2020. Species 2000 & ITIS Catalogue of Life. Published online. Accessed: 2020 Jan 01. Reference page.

Vernacular names
English: Mexican Orange Blossoms
Choisya /ˈʃɔɪziə/[2] is a small genus of aromatic evergreen shrubs in the rue family, Rutaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as Mexican orange due to the similarity of their flowers with those of the closely related orange, both in shape and scent. They are native to southern North America, from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and south through most of Mexico. In its generic name Humboldt and Bonpland honoured Swiss botanist Jacques Denis Choisy (1799–1859).[3]

Description

The species grow to 1–3 m (3.3–9.8 ft) tall. The leaves are opposite, leathery, glossy, palmately compound with 3-13 leaflets, each leaflet 3–8 cm (1.2–3.1 in) long and 0.5–3.5 cm (0.20–1.38 in) broad. C. ternata has three broad leaflets, while C. dumosa has up to 13 very narrow leaflets. The flowers are star-shaped, 3–5 cm (1.2–2.0 in) diameter, with 4-7 white petals, 8-15 stamens and a green stigma; they are produced throughout the late spring and summer. The fruit is a leathery two to six sectioned capsule.
Uses
Choisya 'Aztec Pearl'

Choisya species are popular ornamental plants in areas with mild winters, grown primarily for their abundant and fragrant flowers. The foliage is also aromatic, smelling of rue when bruised or cut. The flowers are also valued for honeybee forage, producing abundant nectar.

The following cultivars have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-

Choisya × dewitteana 'Aztec Pearl'[4]
Choisya × dewitteana White Dazzler = 'Londaz' [5]
Choisya ternata[6]
Choisya ternata Sundance = 'Lich'[7]

Chemistry

Many quinoline alkaloids have been isolated from leaves of Choisya ternata.[8] C. ternata contains an alkaloid (ternanthranin), a volatile simple anthranilate that can be considered responsible for the antinociceptive activity of the crude plant extracts.[9]
Species

Choisya dumosa (Torr.) A.Gray (includes C. arizonica) – starleaf
Choisya katherinae C.H.Müll.
Choisya neglecta C.H.Müll.
Choisya palmeri Standl.
Choisya ternata Kunth – Mexican orange blossom[10][11]

Pests and diseases

Choisya can be prone to attack by pythium root rot, particularly when propagated and grown in pots for the horticultural trade. In north-west Europe the main pest is snails, which eat the bark of even mature specimens, resulting in minor die-back of branches where ring-barking has occurred.
References

"Genus: Choisya Kunth". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2008-03-21. Archived from the original on 2012-10-07. Retrieved 2009-09-27.
Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607
But /ˈtʃɔɪziə/ or /ˈʃwɑːziə/ per the OED: "Choisya". Oxford English Dictionary (Online ed.). Oxford University Press. (Subscription or participating institution membership required.)
Gledhill, D. (2008). The Names of Plants (4 ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 105. ISBN 978-0-521-86645-3.
"Choisya × dewitteana 'Aztec Pearl'". RHS. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
"Choisya × dewitteana White Dazzler = 'Londaz'". RHS. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
"Choisya ternata". RHS. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
"Choisya ternata 'Sundance = 'Lich'". RHS. Retrieved 12 April 2020.
Boyd D.R., Sharma N.D., Loke P.L., Malone J.F., McRoberts W.C., Hamilton J.T.G."Synthesis, structure and stereochemistry of quinoline alkaloids from Choisya ternata", Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 2007 5:18 (2983-2991)
Radulović NS, Miltojević AB, McDermott M, Waldren S, Parnell JA, Pinheiro MM, Fernandes PD, de Sousa Menezes F." Identification of a new antinociceptive alkaloid isopropyl N-methylanthranilate from the essential oil of Choisya ternata Kunth.",J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Mar 21.
"GRIN Species Records of Choisya". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on 2000-11-01. Retrieved 2010-09-27.
"Choisya". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 2010-09-27.