Castela texana
Castela texana, commonly known as Texas broomrape, is a specialized parasitic plant native to the southern United States. Lacking chlorophyll, it relies entirely on host roots for nutrients. This unique botanical species plays a vital role in its ecosystem, demonstrating fascinating evolutionary adaptations for survival in diverse prairie environments.
- Scientific name: Castela texana
- Family: Simaroubaceae
- Native range: Northern America
Taxonomical Classification
This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae within the phylum Streptophyta and the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Sapindales. Finally, it is a member of the family Simaroubaceae and falls under the genus Castela.
| Rank | Classification | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Kingdom | Plantae | WCVP |
| Phylum | Streptophyta | WCVP |
| Class | Equisetopsida | WCVP |
| Subclass | Magnoliidae | WCVP |
| Order | Sapindales | WCVP |
| Family | Simaroubaceae | WCVP |
| Genus | Castela | WCVP |
Common Names
This plant, Castela texana, is known by various common names depending on the linguistic and regional context. In English, it is most frequently referred to as Texas cassia, while in Spanish, it is commonly called cassia de Texas.| Language | Common Name | Source |
|---|
Distribution
This plant exhibits a specific and somewhat limited geographical range within North America. It is primarily found throughout the South-Central United States, specifically within the state of Texas. Beyond the American border, its presence extends into the northern reaches of Mexico. Specifically, the distribution includes the northeastern regions of Mexico. Together, these areas define the natural habitat where this medicinal species can be located.
| Region | Area | Source |
|---|---|---|
| South-Central U.S.A. | Texas | WCVP |
| Mexico | Mexico Northeast | WCVP |
Chemicals
Castela texana has 5 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include amarolide, chaparrin, chaparrinone, glaucarubolone, holacanthone.
- Total chemicals
- 5
- Scientific sources
- 5
Most Reported Compounds
| Compound | Sources | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| amarolide | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chaparrin | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| chaparrinone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| glaucarubolone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |
| holacanthone | 1 | ★☆☆☆☆ |