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Thamnosma texana (Dutchman’s breeches)
Marcus, Joseph A.

Thamnosma texana (Gray) Torr.

Dutchman’s breeches, Ruda del monte, Rue of the mountains, Texas desert-rue

Rutaceae (Rue Family)

USDA Symbol: THTE2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

A low, aromatic plant with a woody base and thin, herbaceous stems up to 1 foot tall. Grows in open and brushy areas in shallow soil over limestone, more common west of the Hill Country. Leaves small, narrow, up to 3/4 inch long by 1/16 inch wide, dotted with glands visible under a 10x hand lens. Flowers small, 1/8 to 3/16 inch wide, arranged along the upper half of the stems, appearing from March to June. Fruit a 2 lobed capsule having an inflated appearance and giving rise to the name Dutchman Breeches.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Fruit:
Size Class: 0-1 ft.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Yellow , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AZ , CO , NM , TX
Native Habitat: Rocky meadows and slopes over limestone in the Edwards Plateau, into south Texas and west to Trans-Pecos Texas. Loam, sand, limestone.
USDA Native Status: L48(N)

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry

Benefit

Fragrant Flowers: yes
Fragrant Foliage: yes
Attracts: Butterflies
Larval Host: Eastern Black Swallowtail.
Deer Resistant: Moderate

Butterflies and Moths of North America (BAMONA)

Thamnosma texana is a larval host and/or nectar source for:
Black Swallowtail
(Papilio polyxenes)

Larval Host
Learn more at BAMONA

Propagation

Propagation Material: Softwood Cuttings
Description: Cut new growth when most tender, before budding in spring, also can have new growth in fall.

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:

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
National Butterfly Center - Mission, TX

Herbarium Specimen(s)

NPSOT 0192 Collected Mar. 15, 1992 in Comal County by Mary Beth White

Bibliography

Bibref 1186 - Field Guide to Moths of Eastern North America (2005) Covell, C.V., Jr.
Bibref 1185 - Field Guide to Western Butterflies (Peterson Field Guides) (1999) Opler, P.A. and A.B. Wright
Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
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 Thamnosma texana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Thamnosma texana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Thamnosma texana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-08-31
Research By: LAL, LAS

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