Ungnadia

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Mexican buckeye
Ungnadia speciosa flowers.jpg
Mexican buckeye flowers
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Rosids
Order: Sapindales
Family: Sapindaceae
Subfamily: Sapindoideae
Genus: Ungnadia
Endl. [2]
Species:
U. speciosa
Binomial name
Ungnadia speciosa
Endl. [3]
Ungnadia speciosa range map.jpg
      natural range
Mexican buckeye form Ungnadia speciosa form.jpg
Mexican buckeye form

Ungnadia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Sapindaceae, containing one species, Ungnadia speciosa, commonly known as the Mexican buckeye. It is native to northern Mexico, as well as Texas and southern New Mexico in the United States. [2] [3] The name honors Austrian ambassador Baron David Ungnad von Sonnegg, son of Andreas Ungnad von Sonnegg, who brought the horse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) to Vienna in 1576, introducing the plant into western Europe. [4] [5] [6] [7] [ failed verification see discussion ]

Contents

It differs from the buckeyes in the related genus Aesculus but the seeds and nuts are similar. [8] [6] [9] [10] Another similar related genus is the soapberry (genus Sapindus ). Ungnadia seeds are poisonous despite their sweetness, and sometimes used as marbles. [11] The foliage is toxic and rarely browsed by livestock, but bees produce honey from the floral nectar. [6]

Description

Ungnadia speciosa is a deciduous shrub or small tree (< 25 ft) that is often multi-trunked. The leaves (5–12 inches or 13–30 centimetres) are alternate and pinnately compound with 5 to 9 leaflets. The leaflets are long (3–5 inches or 7.6–12.7 centimetres), narrow, and pointed with slight serrations. [12] [6]

References

  1. Machuca Machuca, K.; Martínez Salas, E.; Samain, M.-S. (2021). "Ungnadia speciosa". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2021: e.T126621644A136785643. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T126621644A136785643.en . Retrieved 5 August 2023.
  2. 1 2 "Ungnadia Endl". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2006-03-29. Retrieved 2010-01-19.
  3. 1 2 "Ungnadia speciosa". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 2013-05-14.
  4. Quattrocchi, Umberto (2000). CRC World Dictionary of Plant Names. Vol. 4 R-Z. Taylor & Francis US. p. 2760. ISBN   978-0-8493-2678-3.
  5. Endlicher, Stephan (1841). Enchiridion botanicum, exhibens classes et ordines plantarum accedit nomenclator generum et officinalium vel usualium indicatio. Lipsiae, Sumptibus G. Engelmann. p. 565.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Little, Elbert L. (1994) [1980]. The Audubon Society Field Guide to North American Trees: Western Region (Chanticleer Press ed.). Knopf. p. 544. ISBN   0394507614.
  7. Endlicher, Stephan (1839). Novarum stirpium decas I-X. Vindobonae :Typis Sollingerianis. p. 75.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  8. Young, James A.; Young, Cheryl G. (2009). Seeds of Woody Plants in North America. Dioscorides Press. ISBN   978-1604691122.
  9. Bonner, Franklin T.; Karrfalt, Robert P., eds. (2008). The Woody Plant Seed Manual. Vol. Agric. Handbook No. 727. Washington, DC.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
  10. Burns, Russell M.; Honkala, Barbara H., eds. (1990). Silvics of North America. Vol. Agric. Handbook No. 654. Washington, DC.: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service.
  11. Stahl, Carmine; McElvaney, Ria (2003). Trees of Texas. College Station, TX: Texas A&M Press. ISBN   978-1-60344-515-3.
  12. Nokes, Jill (2001). How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest. Austin, TX: University of Texas Press. ISBN   978-0292755734.

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