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Mortonia greggii
Mortonia greggii A. Gray
Gregg's Saddlebush, Afinador
Celastraceae (Bittersweet Family)
Synonym(s):
USDA Symbol: mogr2
USDA Native Status: L48 (N)
The species name “greggii” was named for Josiah Gregg, (1806-1850). He was born in Overton County, Tennessee. In the summer of 1841 and again in the winter of 1841-42 he traveled through Texas, up the Red River valley, and later from Galveston to Austin and by way of Nacogdoches to Arkansas. He took note of Texas geology, trees, prevalent attitudes, and politics. At the same time, Gregg began compiling his travel notes into a readable manuscript. His “Commerce of the Prairies”, which came out in two volumes in 1844, was an immediate success. In 1848 he joined a botanical expedition to western Mexico and California, during which he corresponded with and sent specimens to the eminent botanist George Engelman in St. Louis. Subsequently, the American Botanical Society added the Latin name “greggii” in his honor to twenty-three species of plants. Gregg died on February 25, 1850, as a result of a fall from his horse.
Plant Characteristics
Duration: PerennialHabit: Shrub
Fruit Type: Nut
Size Notes: Up to about 6 feet tall.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: WhiteBloom Time: Jan , Feb , Mar , Apr , May , Jun , Dec
Distribution
USA: TXGrowing Conditions
Light Requirement: SunSoil Moisture: Dry
Benefit
Conspicuous Flowers: yesFrom the National Organizations Directory
According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - Austin, TX
Texas Discovery Gardens - Dallas, TX
Web Reference
Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Additional resources
USDA: Find Mortonia greggii in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Mortonia greggii in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Mortonia greggii
Metadata
Record Modified: 2023-03-16Research By: TWC Staff