Garrya ovata

Garrya ovata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Embryophytes
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Garryales
Family: Garryaceae
Genus: Garrya
Species:
G. ovata
Binomial name
Garrya ovata
Synonyms[2]

Fadyenia ovata (Benth.) Endl.

Garrya ovata, the eggleaf silktassel, Mexican silktassel, or eggleaf garrya, is a species of flowering plant. It is a shrub endemic to Mexico, ranging from northeastern Mexico to Jalisco in western Mexico.[2]

The plant is usually found as an understory species in moist forests, such as Madrean pine-oak woodlands.

Description

Garrya ovata is a shrub up to 6–8 feet (1.8–2.4 m) tall and wide.[3] The leaves are thick and leathery, ovate, up to 10 cm (4 in) long, tomentose on both sides when young, at maturity glabrous above but tomentose below.[4][5][6]

Flowers are arranged in pendulous (hanging) racemes, and are green. It blooms in March through May.[3]

Fruits are dark blue, spherical, up to 8 mm (0.31 in) in diameter.[7]

Taxonomy

The species was described by George Bentham in 1839.[2] Two subspecies, G. ovata subsp. goldmanii and G. ovata subsp. lindheimeri, were formerly recognized,[8] but they are now considered distinct species – Garrya goldmanii Wooton & Standl. and Garrya lindheimeri Torr.[9][10]

References

  1. ↑ IUCN SSC Global Tree Specialist Group.; Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). (2020). "Garrya ovata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2020 e.T126603592A152910889. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-1.RLTS.T126603592A152910889.en. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Garrya ovata Benth". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 NPIN
  4. ↑ Bentham, George. 1839. Plantas Hartwegianas imprimis Mexicanas 14.
  5. ↑ Carranza González, Eleazar. 1996. Garryaceae. Flora del Bajío y de Regiones Adyacentes 49:1-16. Instituto de Ecología.
  6. ↑ Dahling, G. V. 1978. Systematics and evolution of Garrya. Contributions from the Gray Herbarium of Harvard University. 209: 1–104.
  7. ↑ Correll, D. S. & M. C. Johnston. 1970. Manual of the Vascular Plants of Texas i–xv, 1–1881. The University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson.
  8. ↑ CONABIO. 2009. Catálogo taxonómico de especies de México. 1. In Capital Nat. México. CONABIO, Mexico City.
  9. ↑ "Garrya goldmanii Wooton & Standl". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 16 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Garrya lindheimeri Torr". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 16 August 2026.