Choisya

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Genus of flowering plants

title: "Choisya" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["zanthoxyloideae", "zanthoxyloideae-genera"] description: "Genus of flowering plants" topic_path: "general/zanthoxyloideae" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choisya" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Genus of flowering plants ::

|image = Funchal, Monte - Choisya ternata (Orangenblume) IMG 1974.JPG |image_caption = Choisya ternata |taxon = Choisya |authority = Kunth |synonyms = Astrophyllum Torr. & A.Gray |synonyms_ref = |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = See text ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/Choisya_ternata_closeup.jpg" caption=""] ::

Choisya 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 to 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).

Description

The species grow to 1 - tall. The leaves are opposite, leathery, glossy, palmately compound with 3-13 leaflets, each leaflet 3 - long and 0.5 - broad. C. ternata has three broad leaflets, while C. dumosa has up to 13 very narrow leaflets. The flowers are star-shaped, 3 - 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

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4c/Choisya_'Aztec_Pearl'_detail.JPG" caption="''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'
  • Choisya × dewitteana = 'Londaz'
  • Choisya ternata{{cite web | url = https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/3766/Choisya-ternata/Details | title = Choisya ternata | publisher = RHS | accessdate = 12 April 2020}}
  • Choisya ternata = 'Lich' bred by Peter Catt (1986).

Chemistry

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

Species

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

References

  1. (2008-03-21). "Genus: ''Choisya'' Kunth". United States Department of Agriculture.
  2. ''Sunset Western Garden Book,'' 1995:606–607
    But {{IPAc-en. ˈ. tʃ. ɔɪ. z. i. ə or {{IPAc-en. ˈ. ʃ. w. ɑː. z. i. ə per the OED: {{OED. Choisya
  3. Gledhill, D.. (2008). "The Names of Plants". Cambridge University Press.
  4. Muller, Cornelius H. (1940). "A Revision of Choisya". The American Midland Naturalist.
  5. "''Choisya'' × ''dewitteana'' 'Aztec Pearl'". RHS.
  6. "''Choisya'' × ''dewitteana'' White Dazzler = 'Londaz'". RHS.
  7. "''Choisya ternata'' 'Sundance = 'Lich'". RHS.
  8. "Peter Catt dies aged 88: Leading horticulturists pay tribute".
  9. 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)
  10. 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.
  11. "GRIN Species Records of ''Choisya''". United States Department of Agriculture.
  12. {{ITIS

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zanthoxyloideaezanthoxyloideae-genera