About Amyris texana (Buckley) P.Wilson
Amyris texana (Buckley) P.Wilson is a perennial evergreen shrub that reaches 4 to 6 feet (1.2 to 1.8 meters) in height, and grows to roughly the same spread in width. Its leaves are compound, with three pairs of dark green, shiny leaflets. When broken or crushed, leaves and other parts of the plant release an earthy, citrus scent. Small, cream-colored flowers grow in racemes, and bloom from March through October or November. Pollinated flowers develop into dark purple fruits, each holding a single seed. This species has mottled bark and does not produce thorns. It can tolerate drought and short periods of freezing temperatures. It occurs naturally within the Tamaulipan mezquital ecoregion. In Mexico, it is abundant across Coahuila, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, and Tamaulipas. In the United States, it is only found in south Texas. It grows in subtropical or tropical coastal thickets, chaparral, brush, and mesic forest understory, at altitudes from sea level up to around 5,900 feet (1,800 meters). This species, commonly called Texas torchwood, attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, moths, bees, and other pollinators. Its fruits are eaten by birds, lizards, and other types of wildlife. Giant swallowtail butterflies (Papilio rumiko) lay their eggs on the young leaves of Texas torchwood and other species in the Rutaceae family.
