Simmondsia chinensis

Common Name: Jojoba, Goatnut
Oˊodham Name: Hohowai
Group: Shrubs － Desert, Chaparral

Description

Simmondsia chinensis is a dense shrub having leathery leaves which grows in gravelly to rocky soils on slopes and in canyons at 1000 to 5000 ft elevation. Male and female flowers are produced on separate plants. Male flowers contain copious amounts of pollen which is wind-dispersed primarily between 1 and 4PM.
This species produces a nut that has a high tannin content, making it mildly toxic to humans but they may be eaten in small quantities either raw or cooked. Te nuts also were roasted by Spanish settlers to make a coffee-like beverage. Jojoba nuts are an important food source for javelinas and deer. The nuts contain approximately 50% liquid wax which has been used by indigenous people for oil and shampoo [ 1 ].

Classification

Kingdom Plantae － Plants

Subkingdom Tracheobionta － Vascular plants

Superdivision Spermatophyta － Seed plants

Division Magnoliophyta － Flowering plants

Class Magnoliopsida － Dicotyledons

Subclass Rosidae

Order Euphorbiales

Family Simmondsiaceae － Jojoba family

Genus Simmondsia Nutt. － goatnut

Species Simmondsia chinensis (Link) C.K. Schneid. － jojoba

More Information

USDA Plant Profile and Map

Duke, James A. 1983. Handbook of Energy Crops. unpublished. http://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/duke_energy/simmondsia_chinensis.html