| Mexican buckeye | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Mexican buckeye flowers | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Sapindales |
| Family: | Sapindaceae |
| Subfamily: | Sapindoideae |
| Genus: | Ungnadia Endl.[3] |
| Species: | U. speciosa |
| Binomial name | |
| Ungnadia speciosa Endl.[2] | |
 | |
| Natural range | |
Ungnadia is agenus offlowering plants in the familySapindaceae, containing onespecies,Ungnadia speciosa, commonly known as theMexican buckeye. It is native to northern Mexico, as well asTexas and southernNew Mexico in the United States.[3][2] The name honors Austrian ambassador BaronDavid Ungnad von Sonnegg, son of Andreas Ungnad von Sonnegg, who brought thehorse chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum) toVienna in 1576, introducing the plant into western Europe.[4][5][6][7][failed verification –see discussion]
It differs from the buckeyes in the related genusAesculus but the seeds andnuts are similar.[8][6][9][10] Another similar related genus is the soapberry (genusSapindus).Ungnadia seeds are poisonous despite their sweetness, and sometimes used as marbles.[11] The foliage is toxic and rarely browsed by livestock, but bees produce honey from the floral nectar.[6]
Ungnadia speciosa is adeciduousshrub or smalltree (< 25 ft) that is often multi-trunked. Theleaves (5–12 inches or 13–30 centimetres) are alternate andpinnately compound with 5 to 9 leaflets. The leaflets are long (3–5 inches or 7.6–12.7 centimetres), narrow, and pointed with slight serrations.[12][6]
Media related toUngnadia at Wikimedia Commons
Data related toUngnadia speciosa at Wikispecies
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