{{Short description|Genus of plants}} {{Other uses|Castela (disambiguation)}} {{Automatic taxobox |image = Castela_emoryi.jpg |image_caption = ''Castela emoryi'' |taxon = Castela |authority = Turp. |subdivision_ranks = Species |subdivision = 17 - See text |synonyms = ''Holacantha'' <small>A.Gray</small><br/> ''Neocastela'' <small>Small</small> |synonyms_ref = <ref name="GRIN">{{cite web |url=http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?2158 |title=Genus: ''Castela'' Turpin |work=Germplasm Resources Information Network |publisher=United States Department of Agriculture |date=2007-10-05 |access-date=2010-10-23 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121008000821/http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/npgs/html/genus.pl?2158 |archive-date=2012-10-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref> }}
'''''Castela''''' is a genus of thorny shrubs and small trees in the family Simaroubaceae. Members of the genus are native to the Americas, especially the tropical regions. The generic name honours the French naturalist René Richard Louis Castel. ''Castela'' is dioecious, with male and female flowers on separate plants.<ref>{{cite thesis|title= Evolutionary history of Simaroubaceae (Sapindales): Systematics, biogeography and diversification|last=Clayton|first=Joshua William|publisher= University of Florida|date=2008|type=PhD|url=https://ufdc.ufl.edu/UFE0017000/00001}}</ref>
==Species== There are 17 accepted species:<ref name = potw>"''Castela'' Turpin". ''Plants of the World Online'', Kew Science. Accessed 6 October 2021.</ref> *''Castela calcicola'' <small>(Britton & Small) Ekman ex Urb.</small> *''Castela coccinea'' <small>Griseb.</small> *''Castela depressa'' <small>Turpin</small> *''Castela emoryi'' <small>(A.Gray) Moran & Felger</small> – Crucifixion thorn *''Castela erecta'' <small>Turp.</small> – Goatbush *''Castela galapageia'' – Bitterbush *''Castela jacquiniifolia'' <small>(Small) Ekman ex Urb.</small> *''Castela leonis'' <small>Acuña & Roíg</small> *''Castela macrophylla'' <small>Urb.</small> *''Castela peninsularis'' <small>Rose</small> *''Castela polyandra'' <small>Moran & Felger</small> *''Castela retusa'' <small>Liebm.</small> *''Castela spinosa'' <small>Cronquist</small> *''Castela stewartii'' <small>(C.H.Müll.) Moran & Felger</small> *''Castela tortuosa'' <small>Liebm.</small> *''Castela tweediei'' <small>Planch.</small> *''Castela victorinii'' <small>Acuña & Roíg</small>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Commons category-inline|Castela|''Castela''}} *{{Wikispecies-inline|Castela|''Castela''}} *[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?7617,7620 Jepson Manual Treatment]
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Category:Simaroubaceae Category:Sapindales genera Category:Dioecious plants
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