Difference between revisions of "Guaiacum angustifolium"
Mem. Tour N. Mexico, 113. 1848.
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Latest revision as of 18:35, 29 July 2020
Shrubs or trees, to 3 (–7) m; trunk well defined, to 0.3 m diam.; bark fissured vertically; branches many, spreading or straggling, knotty; crown diffuse. Leaves opposite or fascicled, 1–3 cm, folded at night and often also in heat of day; stipules persistent, subulate, 1 mm, apex acute, somewhat spinescent, glabrous; petiole absent or nearly so; leaflets 8–16, dark green, linear-oblong to linear-spatulate, 5–15 × 2–3 mm, apex obtuse, coriaceous, surfaces reticulate. Pedicels hairy. Flowers axillary, mostly solitary, sometimes clustered, 1.2–2 cm diam.; sepals (4–) 5, obovate, to 5 mm, outer smaller; petals (4–) 5, usually blue to purple, rarely white, obovate to elliptic, 6–10 × 2–3 mm, base short-clawed, apex often notched; stamens (8–) 10, shorter than petals; filaments each with small crenate scale at base; ovary obcordiform, flattened, 2 (–4) -lobed, 2 (–4) -locular, hairy; style subulate. Capsules becoming orange, obcordiform, flattened, 10–20 mm diam., 2 (–4) -lobed, 2 (–4) -locular, ± 2 (–4) -winged, apex abruptly attenuate-apiculate, reticulate, hairy. Seeds yellowish-brown, ovoid to reniform, 10–11 mm.
Phenology: Flowering Mar–Sep.
Habitat: Shrubby vegetation, limestone soils.
Elevation: 0–1200 m.
Distribution
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Tex., Mexico (Chihuahua), Mexico (Coahuila), Mexico (Nuevo León), Mexico (San Luis Potosí), Mexico (Tamaulipas)
Discussion
Guaiacum angustifolium occurs in southern, central, and western Texas. The root bark is used as a source of soap, and root extracts are used in folk medicine to treat various diseases. The stems are used for fence posts, tool handles, and firewood.
Selected References
None.