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Hibbits, Terry

Aspicarpa hyssopifolia

Aspicarpa hyssopifolia A. Gray

Hyssopleaf Asphead

Malpighiaceae (Barbados Cherry Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: ASHY4

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

Small shrub with thin, upright stems to 1' in height. Base woody. Leaves opposite, sessile and partially clasping, often decussate. Leaf blades linear-lanceolate, about 1" X 1/4", margins and lower midvein hispid-cilliate. Cleistogamous flowers sessile and borne in lower leaf axils. Petaliferous, chasmogamous flowers pedicellate, rotate, 5-petaled and borne singly from leaf axils mostly at or near the branch tips. Sepals reduced to paired glands. Petals spatulate; margins crisped and fimbriate, orangish-yellow usually with dark orange to red markings.

On dry, rocky, limestone land in Southwest Texas and northern Mexico.

From the Image Gallery

3 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Subshrub
Leaf Arrangement: Opposite
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Lanceolate , Linear
Leaf Apex: Acuminate
Leaf Base: Auriculate
Inflorescence: Axillary
Fruit Type: Schizocarp
Size Notes: Up to about 1 foot tall.
Leaf: Leaves often have a bluish cast.
Flower: Flower about 1 inch in diameter. Sepals reduced to paired glands. Stamens on chasmogamous flowers: five; two or three fertile.
Fruit: Schizocarp, breaking into nutlets, 3-5 mm.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Orange , Yellow
Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug , Sep , Oct
Bloom Notes: Flowers orangish-yellow, usually with reddish markings.

Distribution

USA: TX
Native Distribution: TX, MX
Native Habitat: Dry, limestone hills.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Low
Light Requirement: Sun
Soil Moisture: Dry
Soil pH: Alkaline (pH>7.2)
CaCO3 Tolerance: High
Drought Tolerance: High
Heat Tolerant: yes
Soil Description: Dry, rocky, limestone soils

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Propagation

Propagation Material: Seeds

Bibliography

Bibref 293 - Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas (1979) Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-13
Research By: Joe Marcus

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