Scientific Family
Celastraceae
Other common names
Cruxifixion-thorn
canotia
Plant type
Shrubs
Riparian
No
Plant Description
Origin
Native
Shrub or small tree. Grayish-green branches are smooth, straight, slender, rigid, ascending and spine-tipped up to 8 inches long and about 1/4 inch in diameter. Branches are able to conduct photosynthesis.
Spine-tipped stems. Leaves reduced to small scales. Stems pale green. Flowers inconspicuous in axillary elongated flower clusters; sepals, petals and stamens 5. Fruit a somewhat woody elliptical capsule.
Height
6 to 16 feet
Width
Varies
Habitat
Habitat description
Desert slopes, washes and mesas, desert grasslands, pinyon-juniper and chaparral.
Plant Community
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Interior Chaparral
Grasslands
Desert Scrub
Low elevation
2000
High elevation
4500
Leaves
Leaf color
Greenish
Leaf type
Other
Leaf shape
Other
Leaf margin
Other
Leaf hairs
None
Spines
Yes
Leaf Drop
Deciduous
Greenish leaves are very small and insignificant, scale-like, short-lived and reduced to deciduous scales.
Flowers
Flower color
Greenish-white to reddish-brown
Flower shape
Regular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
May
Last bloom month
August
Male and female flowers on separate plants. Greenish-white to reddish-brown, 5-petaled flowers are less than 1/2 inch wide, in small clusters along branches.
Flower clusters
Elongated
Fruit
Fruit color
Reddish-brown
Fruit type
Capsule
Clusters of woody capsules with 5 valves, each about 1/2 inch long. Seeds may persist for several years.