Arantho
Decatropis bicolor
Family: Rutaceae
CHARACTERISTICS
Large shrub or small tree, growing to about 15’ tall. Dark evergreen leaves with coppery-colored new growth. Sprays of white flowers in warm weather. This plant is not in the trade. There is at least one planted at University of Arizona.
LANDSCAPE USE
Screening shrub or small tree.
GROWING CONDITIONS
AN EXPLANAITION OF TERMS USED
SUN full to part sun, or even bright shade
WATER moderate
SOIL not picky, but well-drained
HARDINESS hardy to at least 25°F
BASIN high zone
CONTAINER does moderately well in containers but will not attain full size
NUTRITION low
MAINTENANCE very little
ECOLOGY
Pollinating insects visit the flowers.
ETHNOBOTANY
This plant is used to treat breast cancer, and some studies have reflected some promise in drugs made from this plant for such. Also this plant is traditionally used for backache, headache, flu, and physical injuries.
NATURAL DISTRIBUTION
Native throughout Mexico down to Central America, usually on rocky hillsides.
TAXONOMY AND NAME
This plant is in the Rutaceae, the citrus family. There are three species of Decatropis with a native range from Mexico to Central America.
The genus Decatropis is derived from the Greek (deka) meaning ten and tropis meaning “keel” like the keel of a vessel, maybe referring to the leaves? The species name “bicolor” means two colors, referring to the green and bronze of the foliage.
This species usually grows in the mountains, photo by María Eugenia Mendiola González, iNaturalist
Flowers occur in warm weather. Photo by María Eugenia Mendiola González, iNaturalist
The seed is small and round, with a dark brown color. Photo by Bodo Nuñez Oberg, iNaturalist
Foliage is two-toned. Photo by Jonh Esqueda, iNaturalist