I took this pic last week at Falcon Dam Park. Can't even imagine what family it belongs to. Anyone here recognize it?
Texas desert shrub
Todd, that is quite an unusual shrub, I have never seen one like it.
This id the closest I have found so far Dalea formosa. Here is a link.
http://wildflower.utexas.edu/plants/result.php?id_plant=DAFO
This one is probably closer Texas Soapbush.
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/143117/
I believe it is Krameria ramosissima:
http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/ornamentals/nativeshrubs/krameriaramosis.htm
Texas county distribution:
http://plants.usda.gov/java/county?state_name=Texas&statefips=48&symbol=KRRA
Wow...that is so beautiful! Are those thorns that I see? And here I thought that I had seen most scrub bushes in that area...
Melanie
Melanie, I haven't seen this plant in person, but I believe that the twigs have some small projections. The reason that I instantly knew that this plant was a type of Krameria is because I became fascinated with the Krameria blooms which are quite beautiful as well as interesting after stumbliing upon trailing krameria, prairie sandbur (Krameria lanceolata). The Krameriaceae family has only one genus and 5 species. The plants are indeed unique. Krameria ramosissima that Todd was so fortunate to find is a Texas endemic native. I have been trying to find a specimen of it for years. There are few photos which do the plant justice and show the beauty of the blooms. Todd's is a great photo of the plant (of course, all of Todd's photos are wonderful :o) ).
Here is a photo of a Krameria lanceolata very small bloom:
http://davesgarden.com/pf/showimage/43763/
Yes, the plant was quite spiny. There were quite a few growing in the area but most were just budding. This was one of the few plants that actually showed a few open blooms. Small but beautifully marked. Seeing as it is in it's own family, no wonder I didn't recognize it! (that is a family we can't grow locally)
That was a great find, how funny that we haven't seen it, and a visitor bumps into it without trying.
Great work Hazel, you are so good.
Josephine.
Todd, I am sorry that there were few plantys with open blooms. Usually there are quite a few at this time of year. This has been the coldest winter and spring that we have experienced in years so a lot of the plants are a bit behind in their bloom time. I am so happy that you found this particular plant and that I can at least have a great view of it through your great photo. There is no photo of it in the PlantFiles so I hope that you add it to its entry.
Josephine, I was so happy that I knew this one's ID. Otherwise, it may have taken Todd quite some time to find it. I am not really that good at identifying plants ... just lucky sometimes. :o)
Happily done!
Nice plant! The closeup of the K. ramosissima flower looks kind of different than the flower in Todd's photo, but guess it could just be the lighting or something.