Phaulothamnus spinescens A.Gray

Genus Taxonomic History

The genus Phaulothamnus was formerly classified in the plant family Phytolaccaceae, but is now placed in Achatocarpaceae. Only one species is recognized within this genus: Phaulothamnus spinescens A.Gray.

Native Distribution

This species is native to southern Texas in the United States, northeastern Mexico (covering eastern Coahuila, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas), and northwestern Mexico (covering Sonora, Sinaloa, Baja California, Baja California Sur, and the Islas Marías of Nayarit).

Common Names

Common names for Phaulothamnus spinescens are snake-eyes, devilqueen, and putia.

Growth Habit

It is a branching spiny shrub that can grow up to 250 cm tall.

Leaf Morphology

Its leaves are broader than they are long, reaching up to 35 mm in width but rarely exceeding 12 mm in length.

Inflorescence Type

Flowers are produced either singly or arranged in racemes.

Fruit and Seed Characteristics

The fruits are spherical and juicy, ranging in color from white to greenish, with black seeds visible through the thin fruit wall.