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Trout, Keeper

Castela erecta ssp. texana

Castela erecta Turp. ssp. texana (Torr. & A. Gray) Cronquist

Texan Goatbush, Goat-bush, Allthorn Goatbush, Amargoso

Simaroubaceae (Quassia Family)

Synonym(s): Castela texana, Castela tortuosa

USDA Symbol: caert

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A thicket forming, spiny shrub with bitter bark. Found on exposed hillsides and in prairies. Branchlets light colored, terminating in stout spines bearing lateral ones. Leaves firm textured, up to 1 inch long by 1/4 inch wide, with a pointed or rounded tip and smooth, turned down margins, the upper surface shiny, the lower covered with fine hairs visible under a 10x hand lens. Flowers small, red to orange, occuring singly or in small groups. Fruit fleshy, red, roughly spherical, slightly flattened, up to 3/8 inch long. Bark reputed to have medicinal properties.

From the Image Gallery

45 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Evergreen
Fruit Type: Drupe
Size Notes: Up to about 10 feet tall.
Fruit: Red

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Red , Pink , Orange
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May
Bloom Notes: Red to orange to pinkish.

Distribution

USA: TX
Native Distribution: Chaparral & brush country, Prairie/Plains/Meadows/Pastures/Savannas, Hillsides/Slopes
Native Habitat: Chaparral & brush country, Prairie, Plains, Meadows, Pastures, Savannas, Hillsides, Slopes

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil Description: Sandy, Sandy Loam, Medium Loam, Clay Loam, Clay

Benefit

Use Ornamental: Attractive, Blooms ornamental, Fruits ornamental, Showy
Use Wildlife: Nectar-insects, Browse, Fruit-birds, Fruit-deer, Nesting site
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Bibliography

Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
Bibref 291 - Texas Wildscapes: Gardening for Wildlife (1999) Damude, N. & K.C. Bender

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 1 - Texas Native Shrubs (2002) Texas A&M University Agriculture Program and Leslie Finical, Dallas Arboretum

Additional resources

USDA: Find Castela erecta ssp. texana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Castela erecta ssp. texana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Castela erecta ssp. texana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2022-10-17
Research By: TWC Staff

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