Thamnosma sp.
Turpentine-broom, Turpentine-Broom
(c) Carlos A. Armenta, some rights reserved (CC BY) · licence
Family: Rutaceae · Type: Shrub · Native
Thamnosma sp. (Turpentine-broom) is a native California shrub in the Rutaceae family.
How to tell it apart
vs Ephedra: Thamnosma has dark purple flowers and turpentine scent; Ephedra has tiny scale-like leaves, jointed stems, and no strong scent.; vs Senna: Thamnosma has simple alternate leaves and purple flowers; Senna has compound leaves and bright yellow pea-like flowers.; vs Scutellaria: Thamnosma has simple alternate leaves and strong turpentine scent; Scutellaria has opposite leaves and no resinous odor.; vs Psorodendron: Thamnosma has simple leaves and dark purple flowers; Psorodendron has compound leaves and yellow pea-flowers.; vs Gutierrezia: Thamnosma has sparse alternate leaves and purple flowers; Gutierrezia has needle-like leaves and yellow composite flower heads.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thamnosma sp. native to California?
Yes. Thamnosma sp. is native to California (recorded as native).
What plant family does Thamnosma sp. belong to?
Thamnosma sp. is in the Rutaceae family, genus Thamnosma.
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.