Mortonia | |
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Mortonia utahensis | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
(unranked): | Angiosperms |
(unranked): | Eudicots |
(unranked): | Rosids |
Order: | Celastrales |
Family: | Celastraceae |
Genus: | Mortonia Gray |
Species | |
~5 species (see text) |
Mortonia is a small genus of flowering shrubs known as saddlebushes or mortonias. These are rough, hairy shrubs with leathery leaves and panicles of fleshy white to purplish flowers. They bear nutlets containing 1 seed each. They are native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where they are most abundant in dry regions.
Selected species: