Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness

Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department of Natural Sciences

Sapindus drummondii Hooker & Arnott
(Soapberry)

Family: Sapindaceae

Status: Native

Synonyms:
Sapindus saponaria Linnaeus var. drummondii (Hooker & Arnott) L. Benson

Sapindus drummondii is a small tree with large pinnately compound leaves. The leaflets are dark green, slightly arcuate but mostly lanceolate. They are acute at the apex and rounded at the base. There are six or seven pairs of leaflets. The white flowers are born in large open panicles. The fruit is a berry that turns bright yellow in age. The berry typically holds one large seed, but may hold as many as three.
Please click on an image for a larger file.



Sapindus drummondii, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., roadside US 90 near WD Ranch Road, May 30, 2007



Sapindus drummondii, in fruit, photo Russ Kleinman & Bill Norris, Burro Mtns., Mangas, Oct. 28, 2007



Sapindus drummondii, fruit, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Pancho Canyon, Nov. 7, 2008



Sapindus drummondii, bark, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Blackhawk Canyon, Jan. 6, 2009



Sapindus drummondii, seed in berry, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Blackhawk Canyon, Jan. 6, 2009



Sapindus drummondii, flowers in huge panicles, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Mangas Springs, July 1, 2009



Sapindus drummondii, closeup of flowers, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Mangas Springs, July 1, 2009



Sapindus drummondii, growth habit, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Route 90 near WD Ranch Road, July 3, 2009



Sapindus drummondii, winter twig, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Mangus Springs, December 28, 2009



Sapindus drummondii, closeup of winter twig, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Mangus Springs, December 28, 2009



Sapindus drummondii, 3x macro of leaf scar and bud on winter twig, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Mangus Springs, December 28, 2009


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