| Erythrostemon mexicanus | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Fabales |
| Family: | Fabaceae |
| Subfamily: | Caesalpinioideae |
| Genus: | Erythrostemon |
| Species: | E. mexicanus |
| Binomial name | |
| Erythrostemon mexicanus (A.Gray 1861) E. Gagnon & G. P. Lewis 2016 | |
| |
| Natural range | |
| Synonyms | |
Erythrostemon mexicanus, formerly Caesalpinia mexicana, is a species of plant in the genus Erythrostemon, within the pea family, Fabaceae. Common names include Mexican holdback, Mexican caesalpinia, and tabachín del monte. It is native to the extreme lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas and to parts of Mexico: in the northeast and further south along the Gulf coast as well as the Pacific coast in Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, and a small portion of Sinaloa.
Description
Mexican holdback is a small evergreen tree or large shrub, reaching a height of 3–4.6 m (9.8–15.1 ft) and a spread of 1.8–3 m (5.9–9.8 ft). Leaves are bipinnately-compound and dark green. Each leaf has five to nine pinnae 4–9 cm (1.6–3.5 in) in length. Pinnae are composed of four to five leaflets that are 1–2.5 cm (0.39–0.98 in) long and 0.7–1.3 cm (0.28–0.51 in) wide. Yellow, slightly fragrant flowers are produced on 7.6–15.2 cm (3.0–6.0 in) terminal spikes of 10 to 30. Blooming takes place from February to July, often continuing to October. The fruit is a dehiscent tan or yellow seedpod 5.1–7.6 cm (2.0–3.0 in) in length.
Uses
Mexican holdback is cultivated as an ornamental because of its showy flowers, lush, fine-textured foliage, and drought tolerance.
Ecology
Erythrostemon mexicanus is the host plant for the caterpillars of the curve-winged metalmark (Emesis emesia).
References
- "Caesalpinia mexicana A. Gray". TROPICOS. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 2009-11-25.
- "Erythrostemon mexicanus (Rose) Gagnon & G.P.Lewis". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
- "Caesalpinia mexicana A. Gray Mexican holdback". PLANTS Database. United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved 2009-12-03.
- ^ Nokes, Jill (2001). How to Grow Native Plants of Texas and the Southwest (2 ed.). University of Texas Press. pp. 151–152. ISBN 978-0-292-75573-4.
- "Mexican Caesalpinia, Mexican Poinciana". Benny Simpson's Texas Native Trees. Texas A&M University. Retrieved 2009-01-28.
- Little Jr., Elbert L. (1976). "Map 27, Caesalpinia mexicana". Atlas of United States Trees. Vol. 3 (Minor Western Hardwoods). US Government Printing Office. LCCN 79-653298. OCLC 4053799.
- ^ Irish, Mary (2008). Trees and Shrubs for the Southwest: Woody Plants for Arid Gardens. Timber Press. pp. 141–142. ISBN 978-0-88192-905-8.
- ^ Richardson, Alfred (1995). Plants of the Rio Grande Delta. University of Texas Press. pp. 103–104. ISBN 978-0-292-77070-6.
- Gilman, Edward F (October 1999). "Caesalpinia mexicana Mexican Caesalpinia" (PDF). IFAS Extension. University of Florida. Retrieved 2010-11-23.
- "Curve-winged Metalmark Emesis emesia (Hewitson, 1867)". Butterflies and Moths of North America. Archived from the original on 2009-05-05. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
External links
- "Caesalpinia mexicana Mexican bird of paradise". Arid Plant List. University of Arizona. 2006-03-16. Archived from the original on 2009-12-21.
| Taxon identifiers | |
|---|---|
| Erythrostemon mexicanus | |
| Caesalpinia mexicana |
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