Purpose: This list provides a partial listing of perennial woody vegetation of the western Concho Valley in Texas. (Cacti, agaves, and yuccas are listed separately from other shrubs due to their distinctive appearance.) It was compiled after examining some 21,500 county level range maps compiled by the Biota of North America Program (BONAP), corresponding United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Plants Database entries, multiple print sources, and through personal observation of area rangeland.
Description of the Region: The western Concho Valley of Texas consists primarily of the areas drained by three streams: the North Concho River (ephemeral), the Middle Concho River (ephemeral), and South Concho River (permanent) in West Central and Southwest Texas. These streams merge near San Angelo to become the Concho River which drains into the Colorado River of Texas. Annual average rainfall totals in this semi-arid desert region range from 16" inches for Reagan County to 18.2" for Tom Green County. Average annual potential evaporation rates as computed by the Irrigation Technology Center of Texas A&M University exceed 70". The western Concho Valley, as defined here, consists of Tom Green, Irion, Reagan, Crockett, Coke, Sterling, Schleicher, and Sutton counties.
A summary of the Environmental Protection Agency Level IV eco-regions in the western Concho Valley can be found electronically at:
Comments: The author's review of BONAP and USDA county level range maps resulted in a list of more than 800 plant species (including gramineous and herbaceous vegetation) in this remote area of West Texas occupying an area roughly equivalent to the state of Massachusetts.
The presence of the Concho River and its tributaries permit a number of non-xerophytes to flourish near waterways. While xeric species are generally widely distributed throughout the region, some of those listed below are localized to certain areas or appear sporadically (e.g. Guajacum angustifolium). By the same token, a person will never be far from populations of other species (e.g. Prosopis glandulosa), regardless of location in the western Concho Valley.
Tables read: Scientific Name / Common Name. Most species have multiple common names and those chosen are ones likely to be familiar to readers outside of West Texas. Ziziphus obtusifolia, for example, is also known as graythorn and gumdrop bush. Depending on location in West Texas, Leucophyllum frutescens may be referred to as purple sage, cenizo, barometer bush, or silverleaf.
The presence of the Concho River and its tributaries permit a number of non-xerophytes to flourish near waterways. While xeric species are generally widely distributed throughout the region, some of those listed below are localized to certain areas or appear sporadically (e.g. Guajacum angustifolium). By the same token, a person will never be far from populations of other species (e.g. Prosopis glandulosa), regardless of location in the western Concho Valley.
Tables read: Scientific Name / Common Name. Most species have multiple common names and those chosen are ones likely to be familiar to readers outside of West Texas. Ziziphus obtusifolia, for example, is also known as graythorn and gumdrop bush. Depending on location in West Texas, Leucophyllum frutescens may be referred to as purple sage, cenizo, barometer bush, or silverleaf.
Shrubs, Small Trees
Acacia angustissima / Prairie Acacia
Acacia berlandieri /Guajillo
Acacia greggii / Catclaw
Acacia rigidula / Blackbrush Acacia
Acacia roemeriana / Roemer Acacia
Ailanthus altissima / Tree of Heaven
Aloysia gratissima / White Brush
Aloysia wrightii / Oreganillo
Amorpha fruticosa / Desert False Indigo Bush
Atriplex canescens / Fourwing Saltbush
Baccharis neglecta / Jara Dulce
Baccharis salicina / Willow Baccharis
Bernardia myricaefolia / Southwest Bernardia Bernardia obovata /Desert Myrtlecroton
Caesalpinia gilliesii / Bird of Paradise
Calia secundiflora / Mountain Laurel
Capsicum annuum var glabriusculum / Chilipiquin
Carya illinoinensis / Pecan
Castela erecta / Goatbush
Celtis pallida / Desert Hackberry
Celtis reticulata / Netleaf Hackberry
Cephalanthus occidentalis / Buttonbush
Cercis canadensis / Redbud
Cestrum diurnum / Day Jessamine
Cevallia sinuata / Stinging Cevallia
Chilopsis linearis / Desert Willow
Condalia spathulata / Knifeleaf Snakewood
Condalia virides / Green Snakewood
Crataegus turnerorum / Turner Hawthorn
Dalea formosa / Feather Dalea
Dalea lasiathera / Purple Dalea
Diospyros texana / Mexican Persimmon
Ephedra antisyphilitica / Vine Ephedra
Ephedra pedunculata / Jointfir
Ephedra trifurca / Longleaf Ephedra
Flourensia cernua / Tarbush
Forestiera angustifolia / Spring Herald
Foestieria pubescens / Elbowbush
Fouquieria splendens / Ocotillo
Frangula caroliniana / Carolina Buckthorn
Gleditsia triacanthos / Honey Locust
Guajacum angustifolium / Soapbush
Gymnosperma glutinosum / Gumhead
Indigofera lindheimeriana / Lindheimer Indigo
Juglans microcarpa / Little Black Walnut
Juniperus ashei / Ashe Juniper
Juniperus pinchotii / Redberry Juniper
Koeberlinia spinosa / Allthorn
Lantana urticoides / Lantana
Larrea tridentata / Creosote Bush
Leucaena retusa / Goldenball Leadtree
Leucophyllum frutescens / Purple Sage
Lonicera albiflora / Western White Honeysuckle
Lycium berlandieri / Wolfberry
Lycium puberulum / Downy Desert Thorn
Maclura pomifera / Osage Orange
Mahonia trifoliata / Agarita
Malus ioensis / Prairie Crab Apple
Melia azerdarach / Chinaberry Tree*
Menodora longiflora / Showy Menodora
Mimosa aculeaticarpa / Catclaw Mimosa
Mimosa borealis / Fragrant Mimosa
Mimosa roemeriana / Roemer Mimosa
Morus alba / Mulberry
Morus microphylla / Texas Mulberry
Nerisyrenia camporum / Mesa Greggia
Parkinsonia texana / Border Paloverde
Parthenium incanum / Mariola
Platanus occidentalis / American Sycamore
Pomaria brachycarpa / Broadpod Nicker
Populus deltoides / Cottonwood
Prosopis glandulosa / Honey Mesquite
Prunus rivularis / Creek Plum
Prunus texana / Sand Plum
Quercus fusiformis / Small Texas Live Oak
Quercus havardii / Havard Shin Oak
Quercus macrocarpa / Bur Oak
Quercus mohriana / Mohr Oak
Quercus sinuata / Bastard Oak
Quercus stellata / Post Oak
Rhus aromatica / Fragrant Sumac
Rhus microphylla / Desert Sumac
Rhus trilobata / Skunkbush
Rhus virens / Evergreen Sumac
Ribes aureum / Golden Currant
Salix babylonica / Weeping Willow
Salix nigra / Black Willow
Salsola kali / Tumbleweed*
Sambucus nigra / Blue Elderberry
Sapindus saponaria / Wingleaf Soapberry
Schaefferia cuneifolia / Desert Yaupon
Sideroxylon lanuginosum / Chittimwood
Sueda suffrutescens / Desert Seepweed
Tamarix aphylla athel /Tamarisk*
Tamarix chinensis / Five-stamen Tamarisk*
Tamarix gallica / French Tamarisk*
Tidestromia lanuginosa / Woolly Tidestromia
Tiquilia canescens / Woody Crinkle Mat
Ulmus americana / American Elm
Ungnadia speciosa / Mexican Buckeye
Viguiera dentata / Toothleaf Goldeneye
Viguiera stenoloba / Skeleton Leaf Goldeneye
Vitex agnus-castus / Lilac Chaste Tree
Zanthoxylum hirsutum / Prickly Ash
Ziziphus obtusifolia / Lotebush
Agave neomexicana / Century Plant
Agave scabra / Century Plant
Calia secundiflora / Mountain Laurel
Capsicum annuum var glabriusculum / Chilipiquin
Carya illinoinensis / Pecan
Castela erecta / Goatbush
Celtis pallida / Desert Hackberry
Celtis reticulata / Netleaf Hackberry
Cephalanthus occidentalis / Buttonbush
Cercis canadensis / Redbud
Cestrum diurnum / Day Jessamine
Cevallia sinuata / Stinging Cevallia
Chilopsis linearis / Desert Willow
Chlorocantha spinosa / Spiny Chlorocanth
Colubrina texensis / Hogplum
Condalia ericoides / Javelina Bush
Condalia hookeri / Brasil Condalia ericoides / Javelina Bush
Condalia spathulata / Knifeleaf Snakewood
Condalia virides / Green Snakewood
Crataegus turnerorum / Turner Hawthorn
Dalea formosa / Feather Dalea
Dalea lasiathera / Purple Dalea
Diospyros texana / Mexican Persimmon
Ephedra antisyphilitica / Vine Ephedra
Ephedra pedunculata / Jointfir
Ephedra trifurca / Longleaf Ephedra
Eysenhardtia texana / Vara Dulce
Fallugia paradoxa / Apache Plume Flourensia cernua / Tarbush
Forestiera angustifolia / Spring Herald
Foestieria pubescens / Elbowbush
Fouquieria splendens / Ocotillo
Frangula caroliniana / Carolina Buckthorn
Gleditsia triacanthos / Honey Locust
Guajacum angustifolium / Soapbush
Gymnosperma glutinosum / Gumhead
Indigofera lindheimeriana / Lindheimer Indigo
Juglans microcarpa / Little Black Walnut
Juniperus ashei / Ashe Juniper
Juniperus pinchotii / Redberry Juniper
Koeberlinia spinosa / Allthorn
Lantana urticoides / Lantana
Larrea tridentata / Creosote Bush
Leucaena retusa / Goldenball Leadtree
Leucophyllum frutescens / Purple Sage
Lonicera albiflora / Western White Honeysuckle
Lycium berlandieri / Wolfberry
Lycium puberulum / Downy Desert Thorn
Maclura pomifera / Osage Orange
Mahonia trifoliata / Agarita
Malus ioensis / Prairie Crab Apple
Melia azerdarach / Chinaberry Tree*
Menodora longiflora / Showy Menodora
Mimosa aculeaticarpa / Catclaw Mimosa
Mimosa borealis / Fragrant Mimosa
Mimosa roemeriana / Roemer Mimosa
Morus alba / Mulberry
Morus microphylla / Texas Mulberry
Nerisyrenia camporum / Mesa Greggia
Nicotiana obtusifolia / Desert Tobacco
Parkinsonia aculeata / Jerusalem Thorn Parkinsonia texana / Border Paloverde
Parthenium incanum / Mariola
Platanus occidentalis / American Sycamore
Pomaria brachycarpa / Broadpod Nicker
Populus deltoides / Cottonwood
Prosopis glandulosa / Honey Mesquite
Prunus rivularis / Creek Plum
Prunus texana / Sand Plum
Quercus fusiformis / Small Texas Live Oak
Quercus havardii / Havard Shin Oak
Quercus macrocarpa / Bur Oak
Quercus mohriana / Mohr Oak
Quercus sinuata / Bastard Oak
Quercus stellata / Post Oak
Rhus aromatica / Fragrant Sumac
Rhus microphylla / Desert Sumac
Rhus trilobata / Skunkbush
Rhus virens / Evergreen Sumac
Ribes aureum / Golden Currant
Salix babylonica / Weeping Willow
Salix nigra / Black Willow
Salsola kali / Tumbleweed*
Sambucus nigra / Blue Elderberry
Sapindus saponaria / Wingleaf Soapberry
Schaefferia cuneifolia / Desert Yaupon
Sideroxylon lanuginosum / Chittimwood
Sueda suffrutescens / Desert Seepweed
Tamarix aphylla athel /Tamarisk*
Tamarix chinensis / Five-stamen Tamarisk*
Tamarix gallica / French Tamarisk*
Tidestromia lanuginosa / Woolly Tidestromia
Tiquilia canescens / Woody Crinkle Mat
Ulmus americana / American Elm
Ungnadia speciosa / Mexican Buckeye
Viguiera dentata / Toothleaf Goldeneye
Viguiera stenoloba / Skeleton Leaf Goldeneye
Vitex agnus-castus / Lilac Chaste Tree
Zanthoxylum hirsutum / Prickly Ash
Ziziphus obtusifolia / Lotebush
Succulents and Semi-Succulents
Agave americana / Century Plant
Agave lechuguilla / Lechuguilla Agave neomexicana / Century Plant
Agave scabra / Century Plant
Coryphantha echinus / Rhinocerus Cactus
Cylindopuntia kleiniae / Candle Cholla
Cylindropuntia davisii / Thistle Cholla
Cylindropuntia imbricata / Tree Cholla
Cylindropuntia leptocaulis / Pencil Cactus
Cylindropuntia tunicata / Thistle Cholla
Dasylirion texanum / Sotol
Echinocactus texensis / Horse Crippler
Echinocereus coccineus / Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus dasyacanthus / Rainbow Cactus
Echinocereus enneacanthus / Pitaya
Echinocereus reichenbacchii / Lace Hedgehog Cactus
Echinocereus triglochidatus / Claret Cup Cactus
Escobaria vivipara / Spinystar
Mammillaria heyderi / Nipple Cactus
Nolina texanum / Sacahuista
Opuntia engelmannii / Prickly Pear Cactus
Opuntia macrocentra / Purple Prickly Pear
Yucca constricta / Buckley Yucca
Yucca glauca / Small Soapweed Yucca
Yucca reverchonii / San Angelo Yucca
Yucca torreyi / Torrey Yucca
Principle Range Map and Species Identification Sources:
Electronic
BONAP (Biota Of North America Program): http://www.bonap.org/genera-list.html
USDA Plants Database: http://plants.usda.gov/
Print
Everitt, James H. et al. Trees, Shrubs, & Cacti of South Texas, Lubbock (TX), 2002
Hart, Charles R. et al. Toxic Plants of Texas, College Station (TX), 2003
Loughmiller, Campbell and Loughmiller, Lynn. Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide, Austin, 2006
MacMahon, James A. Deserts, New York, 1997
Powell, A. Michael. Trees and Shrubs of the Trans-Pecos and Adjacent Areas, Austin, 1998
Tull, Delena and Miller, George Oxford. Wildflowers, Trees, and Shrubs of Texas, Lanham (MD), 1999
Search Terms:
Plant, Plants, Woody Plants, Flora, Vascular Flora, Shrub, Shrubs, Desert, Chihuahuan Desert, Texas Desert, Concho Valley, Texas, West Texas, Southwest Texas, Southwestern Texas, Western Edwards Plateau, Edwards Plateau, Vegetation, Concho Valley, Western Concho Valley, San Angelo, Ozona, Big Lake, Robert Lee, Eldorado, Sterling City, Junction, Mertzon, Barnhart, Tom Green County, Irion County, Reagan County, Crockett County, Coke County, Sterling County, Schleicher County, Sutton County
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