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Smith, R.W.

Styrax platanifolius

Styrax platanifolius Engelm.

Sycamore-leaf Snowbell

Styracaceae (Storax Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: stpl3

USDA Native Status: L48 (N)

A shrub or small tree with dark gray bark. Should not be disturbed. Rare and endangered. Leaves broadly ovate to almost circular, up to 4 inches long, with smooth margins and a broad tip, or with a terminal lobe and a lateral one on each side of it, and a lobed to rounded base. Flowers in small clusters, drooping, with 5 white petals up to 5/8 inch long, suggesting little bells, opening in April and May. Fruit a rounded capsule about 3/8 inch in diameter, with a short tip, the base covered with a remnant (calyx) of the flower.

From the Image Gallery

17 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Shrub
Leaf Retention: Deciduous
Leaf Arrangement: Alternate
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Shape: Ovate
Leaf Pubescence: Stellate
Leaf Margin: Undulate
Breeding System: Flowers Bisexual
Inflorescence: Axillary
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 20 feet tall, often much shorter.
Leaf: Green.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May

Distribution

USA: TX
Native Distribution: Central and west Texas south to Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, and Tamaulipas in Mexico.

Growing Conditions

Water Use: Medium
Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist
Drought Tolerance: Medium
Soil Description: Rich soils along Edwards Plateau streams on limestone rock.

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:			FAC			FAC

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From 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
Brackenridge Field Laboratory - Austin, TX

Wildflower Center Seed Bank

LBJWC-WCW-1 Collected 2009-10-01 in Kendell County by Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

1 collection(s) available in the Wildflower Center Seed Bank

Bibliography

Bibref 354 - Native & Naturalized Woody Plants of Austin & the Hill Country (1981) Lynch, D.
Bibref 318 - Native Texas Plants: Landscaping Region by Region (2002) Wasowski, S. & A. Wasowski
Bibref 297 - Trees of Central Texas (1984) Vines, Robert A.
Bibref 286 - Wildflowers of the Texas Hill Country (1989) Enquist, M.

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.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter
Webref 1 - Texas Native Shrubs (2002) Texas A&M University Agriculture Program and Leslie Finical, Dallas Arboretum

Additional resources

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

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-01-10
Research By: TWC Staff

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