Vascular Plants of the Gila Wilderness
Presented in Association with the
Western New Mexico University Department
of Natural Sciences
Ptelea trifoliata Linnaeus
(Hoptree)
Family: Rutaceae
Status: Native
Synonyms:
Ptelea trifoliata Linnaeus subsp. pallida (Greene) V.L. Bailey var. pallida (Greene) V.L. Bailey
Ptelea pallida Greene
Ptelea trifoliata is a small tree or shrub that has straw colored young twigs and yellow green leaves. Its leaflets are serrulate. The leaves are trifoliate and have small light colored circular areas visible with the leaflet held up to light. These areas area called "pellucid dots" and contain ethereal oils, aromatic volatile secondary plant products. The fruit is a flat and circular samara.
Please click on an image for a larger file.
Ptelea trifoliata, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Knight Mtn., May 9, 2007
Ptelea trifoliata, with two celled samaras, photo Russ Kleinman & Kelly Kindscher, Mogollon Mtns., Mineral Creek, July 7, 2007
Ptelea trifoliata, closeup two celled samaras, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Mogollon Mtns., Catwalk, Feb. 3, 2009
Ptelea trifoliata, bark, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Mogollon Mtns., Catwalk, Feb. 3, 2009
Ptelea trifoliata, flowers, photo Russ Kleinman & Richard Felger, Black Range, North Percha Creek, May 4, 2009
Ptelea trifoliata, closeup of winter twig, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Canyon, December 31, 2009
Ptelea trifoliata, macro of bud and leaf scar of winter twig, photo Russ Kleinman, Burro Mtns., Saddlerock Canyon, December 31, 2009
Ptelea trifoliata, 3x macro of leaf held obliquely to sunlight showing pellucid dots, photo Russ Kleinman, Black Range, North Percha Road, July 29, 2011
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