Simaroubaceae

Crucifixion thorn

Castela emoryi (A.Gray) Moran & Felger

Family: Simaroubaceae
Genus: Castela

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Crucifixion thorn: Castela emoryi , Crucifixion Thorn, sw of Arlington, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. — Photo: Mike, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons

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Common names

By language (1)

English: Crucifixion thorn, Emory's crucifixion-thorn

Synonyms

Holacantha emoryi A.Gray

Characteristics

Growth habit: Shrub, Tree
Lifespan: Perennial
In the US and Canada: Lower 48 states: native

Photos

Photo: Mike, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Mike, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: peterwchen, CC BY 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons
Photo: Spongie555, CC BY-SA 4.0, from Wikimedia Commons

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Sources: classification, synonyms from World Flora Online Plant List (2026-06, CC0 1.0); common names, popularity from Wikidata (2026-10-26, CC0 1.0); common names, US characteristics from USDA PLANTS Database (2025-05-29, CC0 1.0). About our plant data.