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Anderson, Wynn

Vauquelinia californica

Vauquelinia californica (Torr.) Sarg.

Arizona Rosewood, Arizona-rosewood

Rosaceae (Rose Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: vaca5

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Arizona-rosewood is a large, evergreen shrub or small tree to 10 ft., or more. Leathery, yellow-green foliage provides a backdrop for the flat-topped clusters of white, five-petaled flowers. Evergreen, much-branched shrub or small tree with stiff, twisted branches.

The beautiful, dark brown wood streaked with red is hard and very heavy; however, the tree's scarcity, small size, and slow growth have limited commercial use. This genus is dedicated to Louis Nicholas Vauquelin (1763-1827), a French chemist. Despite its Latin species name, which was given before boundaries were definite, it is not native to California.

From the Image Gallery

6 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 25 feet tall, often shorter.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: May , Jun , Jul

Distribution

USA: AZ , NM
Native Distribution: AZ & n. Mex.
Native Habitat: Canyons and mountains; 2500 to 5000 ft.

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Rocky soils.
Conditions Comments: Sometime found, in nature, on limestone; often found among live oaks.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Sibley Nature Center - Midland, TX

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Vauquelinia californica in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Vauquelinia californica in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Vauquelinia californica

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-05-11
Research By: TWC Staff

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