Sonoran Native Virtual Tour - CRUCIFIXION THORN

Koeberlinia spinosa        |       Celastraceae       |        crucifixion thorn

Desert Ecology:

Chlorophyll packed stems carry out most of this plants photosynthesis, to conserve water which could be lost through the plants tiny leaves (drought deciduous and small leaves also facilitate water conservation). The shrub forms a dense thicket which provides habitat to small desert animals and food for bird pollinators.

Ethnobotany:

Fruit of the crucifixion thorn was a part of the Native American diet. Wood used for construction and furniture. Felger and Moser (1974) state that the Seri burned the wood to produce smoke believed to sanitize the home after disease epidemics.

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Additional Resources to Explore:

• Link to the Campus Arboretum Species Description page
• Link to the Campus Arboretum Sonoran Native Plants page (for booklet, self-guided campus tours, or docent led tour information)