Native Plants

Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

rate this answer

Thursday - February 26, 2015
From: Comanche, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identification of thorny bush
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
We found a small thorny like bush in our hay field near the fence line yesterday. It has thorns and each thorn has new nodes along the thorn. it is a frosted like white at this time. It is early february. looks like the frosty color on an ice plant. The plant is bush like. it has been growing new sprouts all around the base of it. It has no leaves or berries at this time. It is not a Mesquite.I am familiar with them. Never seen anything like thisANSWER:
Here are some possibilities for the thorny bush that you have growing in your field in Comanche County:
Gleditsia triacanthos (Honey locust) is shown to occur in Comanche County by the distribution map on the USDA Plants Database.
Poncirus trifoliata (Hardy orange) is not native and is shown to occur as near as McLennan County according to the USDA Plants Database.
Sideroxylon lanuginosum (Gum bumelia) is shown to occur in adjacent Brown County according to the USDA Plants Database. Here is a link to more photos of gum bumelia from Stephen F. Austin University.
Crataegus crus-galli (Cockspur hawthorn) is found in Comanche County according to the USDA Plants Database.
If none of these is the shrub you are seeing and if you have or can take a photo of it, you should visit our Plant Identification page where you will find links to several plant identification forums that will accept photos for identification.
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Identification Questions
Plant identification
May 11, 2008 - Can you identify a plant in a shady part of our yard. I have a pictrure I would like to send and I don't see a way to do that here. Can you provide that assistance? Perhaps a direct email address so ...
view the full question and answer
Tall skinny plant with tubelike flowers
May 14, 2008 - I already posted a question regarding a skinny plant with tiny tube like flowers and you gave me 6 possibilities unfortunately it is not one of them. I happened to see the plant again in my neighborh...
view the full question and answer
List of plants with
January 30, 2007 - Hello, Mr. Smarty Plants, I would like a list of all the plants which have been named for Ferdinand Jacob Lindheimer. I would like to prepare this information for use at the Washington on the Brazos,...
view the full question and answer
What is the name of a green plantin Ohio with white flowers that kind of look like broccoli?
March 13, 2009 - Last summer I saw a plant that had very full, very light green almost white flowers that kind of looked like broccoli. Do you know the name of this plant?
view the full question and answer
Plant identification of tree with white blossoms in Fort Worth
March 17, 2010 - Live in Fort Worth, TX. Any idea what are trees blooming this week (3/18), with white blossoms and an oval green leaf about the size of a half dollar? The bark looks like an oak.
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |