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.

Help us grow by giving to the Plant Database Fund or by becoming a member

Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants

Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

Search Smarty Plants

See a list of all Smarty Plants questions

Please forgive us, but Mr. Smarty Plants has been overwhelmed by a flood of mail and must take a break for awhile to catch up. We hope to be accepting new questions again soon. Thank you!

Need help with plant identification, visit the plant identification page.

rate this answer

Not Yet Rated

Wednesday - June 27, 2007

From: Austin, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: Plant Identification
Title: Identifiation of Castela erecta ssp. texana as armagosa
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

I am reading a document that includes the name Armagosa in a list of plants identified in a south Texas (Maverick Co.) vegetation analysis(shrub/sub-shrub layer). Unfortunately the list of species did not include the taxonomic identifier for this plant. There are lots of misspellings in the lists, so ...ever heard of something similar to this name?

ANSWER:

According to A Field Guide to Common South Texas Shrubs (by Richard B. Taylor, Jimmy Rutledge, and Joe G. Herrera. 1997. University of Texas Press) Castela erecta ssp. texana (Texan goatbush) is armagosa. Other common names are bitterbush and allthorn goatbush. There are two subspecies C. erect ssp. texana in Texas and C. erect ssp. erecta in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The Texas A&M University at Uvalde database shows Castela texana as amargosa. ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System) lists this name as a synonym for the accepted name of Castela erecta ssp. texana. You can find more information from the US Forest Service and Texas A&M Aggie Horticulture.