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Larrea tridentata

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Medicinal Plants of the World, Volume 3

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Abstract

Larrea tridentata is a member of the caltrop family ZYGOPHYLLACEAE. It is a native, drought-tolerant, evergreen shrub slowly growing to 2–4 m tall and 1.8 m wide, with numerous flexible stems projecting at an angle from its base. The bush is a group of four to 12 plants that shoot up from one plant in all directions. The root system consists of a shallow taproot and several lateral secondary roots, each approx 3 m in length and 20–35 cm deep. The taproot extends to a depth of approx 80 cm. The leaves are thick, waxy, resinous, 12–25 mm long, alternate leaves with two leaflets, pointed, yellow-green in color, covered with a varnish; darker and aromatic after rainfall. These leaves grow directly from the branches of the bush. The bush may lose some of leaves during extreme drought.

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© 2005 Humana Press Inc., Totowa, NJ

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(2005). Larrea tridentata. In: Medicinal Plants of the World, Volume 3. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-887-8_8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-59259-887-8_8

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-58829-129-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-887-8

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