jojoba

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• goatnut

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Brocchia dichotoma
• Simmondsia californica
• Buxus chinensis
• Simmondsia pabulosa
• Buxus californica
• Celastrus obtusatus

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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 Caryophyllales. Finally, it resides in the family Simmondiaceae and is identified by the genus Simmondsia.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, known scientifically as Simmondsia chinensis, is primarily distributed across the arid regions of North America. In the Southwestern United States, it can be found growing in the states of Arizona, California, and Utah. Its range extends further into the South-Central United States, specifically throughout New Mexico. Additionally, the species is prevalent in the northeastern parts of Mexico. This specific geographical pattern highlights its adaptation to the dry climates of these particular territories.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Simmondsia chinensis is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist in its environment through multiple growing seasons. It maintains a constant presence in its habitat due to its evergreen status, retaining its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally. This combination of a long-lived life cycle and continuous leaf retention enables the species to maintain physiological activity and structural stability over extended periods.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Simmondsia chinensis is characterized by a woody growth form, primarily presenting as a shrub. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as a parasite or an epiphyte. In terms of stature, the plant is self-supporting rather than acting as a climber, liana, or vine. Its height is variable, with recorded dimensions ranging from a minimum of 1 m to a maximum of 4 m, maintaining a mean plant height of approximately 2.05 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

4 m

Plant height mean:

2.05 m

Plant height min:

1 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Simmondsia chinensis is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The vegetative structure features an opposite leaf arrangement, with individual leaves displaying an ovate form. These leaves typically measure between a minimum length of 2 cm and a maximum length of 4 cm, while their width ranges from a minimum of 1.3 cm to a maximum of 1.8 cm. Furthermore, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on external soil nutrient availability for its nitrogen requirements.

Leaf arrangement :

opposite

Leaf form :

ovate

Leaf length max:

4 cm

Leaf length min:

2 cm

Leaf width max:

1.8 cm

Leaf width min:

1.3 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Simmondsia chinensis is characterized by a dioecious sexual system, meaning individual plants are either male or female, and self-fertilization is noted as absent. The flowering period typically commences in February and concludes in May, featuring flowers that are green in color. The pollination process is governed by an abiotic syndrome, specifically utilizing wind as the primary mechanism for pollen transfer. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruit in the form of a capsule, which is dehiscence-based. These fruits reach a maximum length of approximately 2 cm and contain a variable number of seeds ranging from 1 to 10 per fruit. The seeds exhibit a mean mass of approximately 0.597 g, with individual seed weights fluctuating between a minimum of 0.30362 g and a maximum of 1.2032 g. Dispersal of the progeny is categorized as unspecialized, facilitating the spread of the species within its environment.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

unspecialized

Flower colour :

green

Flowering time :

Feb

Flowering time :

May

Fruit length max:

2 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Pollination syndrome :

wind

Pollination syndrome :

abiotic

Reproduction sexual :

dioecious

Seed mass max:

1.2032 g

Seed mass mean:

0.597447643 g

Seed mass min:

0.30362 g

Seeds_per_fruit :

1-10

Self fertilization :

absent

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Simmondsia chinensis has 27 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, Simmondsin, Alcohols, Antioxidant, Ash.

Flavonoids

1. Polymers
2. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]

Simmondsin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Nutrients

Alcohols

1. Polymers

Antioxidant

1. Recent patents on drug delivery & formulation

Ash

1. Dr. Duke

CALCIUM

1. Dr. Duke

COBALT

1. Dr. Duke

COPPER

1. Dr. Duke

Cyclovirobuxine D

1. Yao xue xue bao = Acta pharmaceutica Sinica

FAT

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Simmondsia chinensis has 164 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antioxidant, Analgesic, ACE-Inhibitor, Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker, AntiBPH.

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Polymers
3. Recent patents on drug delivery & formulation

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Polymers

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Angiotensin-Receptor-Blocker

1. Dr. Duke

AntiBPH

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCFS

1. Dr. Duke

AntiCrohn's

1. Dr. Duke

AntiHIV

1. Dr. Duke

AntiLyme

1. Dr. Duke

AntiMS

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Simmondsia chinensis has 14 reported investigations on conditions identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include E. coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Toxoplasma gondii infection.

E. coli

1. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]

Klebsiella pneumoniae

1. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa

1. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

1. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]

Toxoplasma gondii infection

1. The Journal of veterinary medical science

Acne

1. Polymers

Cancer

1. Polymers

Hyperglycemia

1. Nutrients

Immunity

1. Polymers

Obesity

1. Polymers

Preparations

Simmondsia chinensis has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include ethanolic extract.

Ethanolic extract

1. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]