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Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

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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: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 2 feet tall.
Leaf: Yellow-Green

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Purple
Bloom Time: Feb , Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , NV , UT
Native 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: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
CaCO3 Tolerance: High

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Web Reference

Webref 30 - Calflora (2018) Calflora
Webref 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 Plants
FNA: Find Thamnosma montana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Thamnosma montana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-16
Research By: TWC Staff

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