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Palafoxia callosa (Small palafox)
Lytle, Melody

Palafoxia callosa (Nutt.) Torr. & Gray

Small palafox, Small palafoxia

Asteraceae (Aster Family)

Synonyms: Othake callosa, Palafoxia callosa var. bella, Polypteris callosa

USDA Symbol: PACA3

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

Glandular stems reaching 20 to 60 cm tall, producing linear leaf blades w/ glandular-based hairs. Brownish to reddish purple anthers stand out against lavendar petals. Small Palafox is an upright, 2-3 ft. annual with solitary flowers on slender stalks from sticky-hairy stems. Ray flowers are absent. Disk flowers are pink or purple. Leaves become bract-like in the flowering portion of the stem.

The flowers attract butterflies.

This genus is named after José de Palafox y Melzi, Duke of Saragossa (1776–1847), a Spanish captain-general, in the war against the invading armies of Napoleon.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Annual
Habit: Herb
Leaf: Green
Fruit:
Size Class: 1-3 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Purple
Bloom Time: Aug , Sep , Oct , Nov
Bloom Notes: Has no ray flowers

Distribution

USA: AR , HI , LA , MO , MS , OK , TX
Native Distribution: From Texas to Oklahoma, east to Missouri & south to Arkansas.
Native Habitat: Limestone glades; bald knobs; open, sandy areas; gravelly stream edges.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), HI(I)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Heat Tolerant: yes
Conditions Comments: Small palafoxia provides an airy accent to the fall prairie garden. Best grown in full sun and dry, gravelly soils to avoid rotting plant. Great reseeding annual for the xeric flower garden.

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Small palafoxia provides an airy accent to the fall prairie garden.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes
Interesting Foliage: yes
Nectar Source: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds
Seed Collection: Collect seed in October, November. Plant in December or January.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is either on display or available from the following:

Fredericksburg Nature Center - Fredericksburg, TX
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX
Nueces River Authority - Uvalde, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0102 Collected Nov 10. 1990 in Bexar County by Lottie Millsaps
NPSOT 0262 Collected Aug. 19, 1992 in Comal County by Mary Beth White
NPSOT 0038 Collected Oct.3, 1990 in Bexar County by Judith C. Berry
NPSOT 0296 Collected July 26, 1991 in Bexar County by Judith C. Berry

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-MM-708 Collected 2009-11-16 in Travis County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Bibliography

Bibref 328 - Wildflowers of Texas (2003) Ajilvsgi, Geyata.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2010-10-20
Research By: WFS, RSB

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