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Marshallia caespitosa (Barbara's-buttons)
Marcus, Joseph A.

Marshallia caespitosa

Marshallia caespitosa Nutt. ex DC.

Barbara's-buttons, Puffballs, White Barbara's-buttons, Barbara's Buttons

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: MACA7

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Barbaras Buttons is an upright perennial, usually 8-20 in., with solitary or several, unbranched stems. Dainty balls of white, fragrant flowers are borne on slender, leafless stalks arising from a rosette of narrow leaves.

 

From the Image Gallery

35 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Size Notes: Up to about 30 inches tall, often shorter.
Fruit: Fruit is a cypsela (pl. cypselae). Though technically incorrect, the fruit is often referred to as an achene.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AR , KS , LA , MO , OK , TX
Native Distribution: KS to AR, LA & TX
Native Habitat: Variety of sandy or calcareous sites. Found in the eastern half of Texas west to Taylor, Val Verde, and DeWitt counties. Well-drained sand, loam, clay, or limestone.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun , Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Sandy or calcareous soils. Sandy, Sandy Loam, Limestone-based, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay
Conditions Comments: Barbara's-buttons is an upright perennial with solitary or several, unbranched stems. Dainty balls of white, fragrant flowers are borne on slender, leafless stalks arising from a rosette of narrow leaves.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Perennial garden, Rocky hillside, Rock gardens, Aromatic
Use Wildlife: Rabbits will eat the plant.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Fragrant Flowers: yes
Nectar Source: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:AGCPAKAWCBEMPGPHIMWNCNEWMVE
Status: FACU FACU FAC UPL
This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
NPSOT - Williamson County Chapter - Georgetown, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0057 Collected May 18, 1990 in Bexar County by Lottie Millsaps

1 specimen(s) available in the Digital Herbarium

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-GV-2 Collected 2005-06-12 in Lampasas County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 1620 - Gardening with Native Plants of the South (Reprint Edition) (2009) Wasowski, S. with A. Wasowski
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 281 - Shinners & Mahler's Illustrated Flora of North Central Texas (1999) Diggs, G. M.; B. L. Lipscomb; B. O'Kennon; W. F...
Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

USDA: Find Marshallia caespitosa in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Marshallia caespitosa in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Marshallia caespitosa

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-12-29
Research By: TWC Staff

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