Phaulothamnus spinescens
Family: Achatocarpaceae
Description: Evergreen shrub to 3 m high with spreading, Often spine-tipped branches. Leaves oblanceolate, obovate, or spatulate, thickened1-3 cm long. Flowers in axillary racemes, unisexual with the male and female on separate plants. Tepals 2-2.5 mm long, yellow-green. Fruits 4-5 mm, whitish, translucent.
Field Identification: The translucent fruit which look like snake eyes are a distinctive feature of this plant. Without the fruit the plant resembles Tanglewood (Elbow Bush). Stems have a blackish tint and the stem spines can be soft.
Plant Trivia: A monotypic American genus.
Occurrence: Occasional on sandy and clayey loams in brushy pastures. Known from around Corpus Christi, west of Portland, Laureles Rance, south of Kingsville, and the South Texas Botanical Gardens. native to southern Texas and northern Mexico,
Bloom Period: July-Sept
Plant Use:
stxflora 