The WALA Plant Library
Jojoba

Synonyms for Jojoba: none
Scientific Name: Simmondsia chinensis
Family: Simmondsiaceae

Description:

Jojoba is a real marvel in dealing with extremes. The evergreen shrub which can reach a height of up to 3 metres grows in desert regions with night time temperatures between 0 and 5°C and daytime temperatures of up to 45°C. It can only survive these conditions with the help of its tap roots which grow to a depth of up to 4 metres and draw water from the deepest layers of the earth and through its leaves which are specially adapted to cope with the dryness. The woody shrub has long narrow leaves with a leathery surface and hairy covering which help prevent water loss. The plant is dioecious. That means there are male plants that produce pollen and female plants that produce inconspicuous flowers which develop into the brown, acorn-shaped jojoba nuts after wind-pollination. In spite of their extreme habitat jojoba bushes can become as old as 200 years.