Native Plants
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Thamnosma montana
Thamnosma montana Torr. & Frém.
Turpentinebroom, Desert Rue, Turpentine Broom
Rutaceae (Rue Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: THMO
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
Often leafless, densely branched, yellowish-green shrub; branches are pungent and dotted with glands.
Desert Rue belongs to the family Rutaceae, which includes lemons, oranges, and grapefruits. The fruit is a miniature of these citrus fruits and may smell overpowering at times.
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Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Subshrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.
Leaf: Yellow-Green
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: PurpleBloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May
Distribution
USA: AZ , CA , NV , UTNative Distribution: S. Nevada, extreme sw. Utah, se. California, scattered parts of western half of Arizona.
Native Habitat: Slopes and mesas, usually rocky or gravelly areas; below 4500’ (1370 m).
Growing Conditions
Water Use: LowLight Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Benefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yesWeb Reference
Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) CalfloraWebref 36 - Jepson eFlora (2019) The Jepson Herbarium, University of California, Berkeley
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Thamnosma montana in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Thamnosma montana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Thamnosma montana
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-05-16Research By: TWC Staff