Condalia

Condalia is a genus of spinyshrubs in the tribeRhamneae of the buckthorn family, Rhamnaceae.^[1] It was named for Antonio Condal, an 18th-century Spanish physician.^[2] Members of the genus are native to tropical and subtropicaldeserts and xeric shrublands in North and South America. The ranges of each species vary considerably; some are confined to only a few square miles, while others can be found on an area up to 1,000 sq mi (2,600 km²).^[3]

Condalia species are often referred to as bluewood, purple haw, logwood,^[4] or snakewood in English. Some southern hemisphere species are known as "piquillín" or "yuna". The name snakewood is broadly used and does not indicate any particular species.

Research performed on the members of Condalia usually concerns only the species native to North or South America; taxonomy is determined for only one group of species. As a result, a consensus has not been reached regarding the composition of the genus.

The amount of research conducted on the economic and medical uses of Condalia species is small. However, biochemical features of this genus are currently being studied.^[5]

The fruit of Condalia hookeri are edible, consumed by birds, and can be made into jelly.^[6]

• Condalia buxifoliaReissek
• Condalia correlliiM.C.Johnst.– Correll's snakewood
• Condalia ericoides(A.Gray) M.C.Johnst.– javelina bush
• Condalia globosaI.M.Johnst.– bitter snakewood (Southwestern United States, northwestern Mexico)
• Condalia hookeriM.C.Johnst.– Brazilian bluewood
• Condalia mexicanaSchltdl. - Mexican bluewood
• Condalia microphyllaCav.– piquillín (Argentina)
• Condalia spathulata A.Gray - condalia de hoja de cuchillo
• Condalia velutina I.M.Johnst.
• Condalia viridis I.M.Johnst. – madera de serpiente verde
• Condalia warnockii M.C.Johnst. – madera de serpiente warnock
• Condalia weberbaeuri Perkins – yana yana ^{[ 7 ] [ 8 ]}