Castela sp.
Family: Simaroubaceae · Type: Shrub · Variable; species dependent
Castela sp. is a non-native California shrub in the Simaroubaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Condaliopsis: Castela has prominent long thorns and tiny scale leaves; Condaliopsis has spine-tipped twigs and larger oval leaves.; vs Ailanthus: Castela is a low thorny desert shrub; Ailanthus is a tall unarmed tree with huge compound leaves.; vs Thamnosma: Castela has fierce thorns and simple leaves; Thamnosma lacks thorns and has tiny trifoliate leaves.; vs Glossopetalon: Castela has separate male/female flowers and deeply lobed fruits; Glossopetalon has bisexual flowers and simple capsules.; vs Tamarix: Castela has thorny stems and simple leaves; Tamarix lacks thorns and has scale-like feathery foliage.
Frequently asked questions
Is Castela sp. native to California?
No. Castela sp. is not native to California (recorded as variable; species dependent).
What plant family does Castela sp. belong to?
Castela sp. is in the Simaroubaceae family, genus Castela.
Related species
Other California species in the same genus, family, or bioregion.
Sources: Jepson eFlora · CalPhotos
Last updated 2026-04-14
Data from The California Species Project — 14,000+ California species with verified data from CNPS, CDFW, USFWS, Cal-IPC, and more.