Choisya [ Sunset Western Garden Book, 1995:606–607]
But or per the OED: is a small genus of aromatic evergreen in the rue family, Rutaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as Mexican orange due to the similarity of their flowers to those of the closely related orange, both in shape and scent. They are native plant to southern North America, from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and south through most of Mexico. In its generic name Humboldt and Bonpland honoured Swiss botanist Jacques Denis Choisy (1799–1859).
Description
The species grow to tall. The
Leaf are opposite, leathery, glossy,
Leaf shape compound with 3-13 leaflets, each leaflet long and broad.
C. ternata has three broad leaflets, while
C. dumosa has up to 13 very narrow leaflets. The
are star-shaped, diameter, with 4-7 white
, 8-15
and a green
carpel; they are produced throughout the late spring and summer. The
fruit is a leathery two to six sectioned capsule.
Uses
Choisya species are popular
in areas with mild winters, grown primarily for their abundant and fragrant flowers. The foliage is also aromatic, smelling of
rue when bruised or cut. The flowers are also valued for honeybee forage, producing abundant
nectar.
The following have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-
-
Choisya × dewitteana 'Aztec Pearl'
-
Choisya × dewitteana = 'Londaz'
-
Choisya ternata
-
Choisya ternata = 'Lich'
Chemistry
Many quinoline alkaloids have been isolated from leaves of
Choisya ternata.
[Boyd D.R., Sharma N.D., Loke P.L., Malone J.F., McRoberts W.C., Hamilton J.T.G."Synthesis, structure and stereochemistry of quinoline alkaloids from Choisya ternata", Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry 2007 5:18 (2983-2991)] C. ternata contains an alkaloid (ternanthranin), a volatile simple
anthranilate that can be considered responsible for the
antinociceptive activity of the crude plant extracts.
[Radulović NS, Miltojević AB, McDermott M, Waldren S, Parnell JA, Pinheiro MM, Fernandes PD, de Sousa Menezes F." Identification of a new antinociceptive alkaloid isopropyl N-methylanthranilate from the essential oil of Choisya ternata Kunth.", J Ethnopharmacol. 2011 Mar 21.]
Species
Pests and diseases
Choisya can be prone to attack by
pythium root rot, particularly when propagated and grown in pots for the horticultural trade. In north-west Europe the main pest is snails, which eat the bark of even mature specimens, resulting in minor die-back of branches where
girdling has occurred.
