Amyris

Synonyms

None

Cultivar or taxon

Amyris P. Browne (sensu Tanaka sec. Cottin 2002)

Description

Crown compact or dense, not weeping. First-year twig surface glabrous; second- or third-year twig surface mottled; thorns absent or not persistent; prickles absent or not persistent. Petiole glabrous, length very long, wings absent. Leaflets three, margin crenate/crenulate, rachis wings absent, shade leaflet blades weakly conduplicate, sun leaflet blades weakly or strongly conduplicate. Scent of crushed leaflets somewhat to strongly malodorous. Fruit as long as broad or longer than broad; rind dark green (3), medium green (4), light green with some break to yellow (5), black, red, or pink; rind texture smooth (1-3); firmness membranous; navel absent.

Notes

Four native species of Amyris are known from the continental United States: two from Florida (A. balsamifera L. and A. elemifera L.) and two from Texas (A. madrensis S. Watson and A. texana (Buckley) P. Wilson). No additional species are presently known in cultivation in the US. Leaves of Amyris madrensis are opposite to subopposite and 5-11-foliolate. In contrast, the remaining three species have leaves that are alternate and trifoliolate. Keys to the two species pairs in Texas and in Florida are provided below (adapted from Wunderlin and Hansen 2003 and Correll and Johnston 1970, respectively).

Key to Amyris in Florida

1. Ovary puberulent; inflorescence puberulent...A. balsamifera (Miami-Dade and Monroe cos. keys).

1'. Ovary glabrous; inflorescence glabrous...A. elemifera (central and s. peninsula along east coast)

 

Key to Amyris in Texas

1. Leaves opposite to subopposite, 5-11-foliolate, pubescent...A. madrensis (primarily se. TX)

1'. Leaves alternate, trifoliolate, glabrous...A. texana (primarily se. TX)

References

Correll, D.S. and M.C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the vascular plants of Texas. Texas Research Foundation, Renner. 1881 pp.

Cottin, R. 2002. Citrus of the World: A citrus directory. Version 2.0. France: SRA INRA-CIRAD.

Wunderlin, R.P. and B.F. Hansen. 2003. Guide to the vascular plants of Florida. University Press of Florida, Gainesville. 787 pp.

Resources

Search for this cultivar in NCBI Entrez