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Menodora species [Oleaceae]

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Scientific Name Menodora heterophylla USDA PLANTS Symbol MEHE2
Common Name Redbud, Low Menodora ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 32983
Family Oleaceae (Olive) Wildflower Center Ref. Click Here
Description Habitat: Clay, gravel, sandy loam, and caliche soils; outcrops and rocky hills and mesquite pastures in central and southern Texas.
Plant: Small, reclining to semi-erect perennial, 2 to 10 inches tall; numerous sparsely hairy stems.
Leaves: Crowded opposite, linear to oblong-lanceolate, 1-1/2 inches long overall, entire or pinnately-lobed with 3 to 7 segments; smooth with slightly hairy edges.
Inflorescence: Small, terminal pale yellow flowers, 1/2 to 3/4-inch wide, funnel-shaped with 5 or 6 lobes (petals), backside steaked with red; 10 to 14 narrow, pointed calyx lobes (sepals) below; two protruding stamens 3/8-inch long or less; protruding pistil 3/8-inch long; prior to opening, buds are bright red.
Bloom Period: March to June.
References: "Wildflowers of Texas Hill Country" by Marshall Enquist and "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston.
BONAP Distribution Map

Texas Status:
Native
Scientific Name Menodora longiflora USDA PLANTS Symbol MELO2
Common Name Showy Menodora ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 32984
Family Oleaceae (Olive) Wildflower Center Reference Click Here
Description Habitat: Desert environments; dry, limestone and igneous, soils on rocky hillsides, canyons and ledges along streams.
Plant: Erect perennial, 1-1/2 to 3 feet tall; numerous, branched stems, smooth to densely hairy.
Leaves: Opposite lower and alternate above; linear to elliptic-lanceolate, up to 2-1/4 inches long; sessile; surfaces smooth or slightly hairy.
Inflorescence: Numerous bright yellow flowers in terminal cymes, smooth floral tube 1 to 2-1/4 inches long flaring open to 5 pointed corolla lobes; calyx with 8 to 12 green linear lobes almost 3/4-inch long; blossoms are fragile, and tend to close or drop when disturbed.
Bloom Period: June to September.
References: "Wildflowers of Texas" by Michael Eason, "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston and NRCS/USDA.
BONAP Distribution Map

Texas Status:
Native
Scientific Name Menodora scabra USDA PLANTS Symbol MESC
Common Name Rough Menodora ITIS Taxonomic Serial No. 32985
Family Oleaceae (Olive) SEINet
Reference
Click Here
Description Habitat: Dry, rocky or sandy soils; hillsides, mesas, scrublands.
Plant: Perennial with several to many erect stems from a woody base; 4 to 16 inches tall.
Leaves: Opposite lower, becoming alternate above; sessile; blades linear-oblong to elliptic-oblong with a tapering base; 3/8 to 1-1/4 inches long and up to 1/4-inch wide; minutely but distinctly rough-hairy, at least along margins.
Inflorescence: Small, terminal clusters of a few bright yellow flowers, each flower about 1/2-inch across, funnel-shaped with 5 or 6 lobes (petals) with rounded tips bending slightly backwards at maturity; 7 to 12 (+/-) narrow, pointed, rough-hairy calyx lobes (sepals) below; two protruding stamens less than 1/3-inch long; protruding pistil 3/8-inch long.
Bloom Period: April to June.
References: "Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas" by Correll and Johnston, www.americansouthwest.net, and SEINet.
BONAP Distribution Map

Texas Status:
Native

© Tom Lebsack 2023