Prunus minutiflora
Species of shrub
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Prunus minutiflora, commonly known as the Texas almond,[5] is a shrub native to Texas in the United States and Chihuahua in northern Mexico.[6]
| Prunus minutiflora | |
|---|---|
| |
| Leaves and stems | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Rosids |
| Order: | Rosales |
| Family: | Rosaceae |
| Genus: | Prunus |
| Subgenus: | Prunus subg. Prunus |
| Section: | Prunus sect. Emplectocladus |
| Species: | P. minutiflora |
| Binomial name | |
| Prunus minutiflora | |
| Synonyms[3][4] | |
Taxonomy
The species was described in the Boston Journal of Natural History in 1850 by George Engelmann and Asa Gray[7] based on a holotype collected by Ferdinand Lindheimer at Comanche Spring in New Braunfels, Texas[8] in 1846.[9] 'Minutiflora' means "minute flower" and refers to the diminutive flowers of this species.[10]
Description
Texas almond is a dense[7] thicket-forming deciduous shrub reaching a height of 0.91 metres (3 feet).[11] Branches have a zigzag shape[12] and are weakly thorny.[13] Twigs have axillary end buds and are canescent.[13]
Flowers
P. minutiflora is dioecious, having male and female flowers on separate plants,[14] which is rare for Prunus.[15] Blooms are formed singly at leaf buds. The hypanthium is externally glabrous, bell-shaped, and measures 2–3 mm. The glabrous sepals are spreading, triangular, have entire margins, and measure 0.7–1.5 mm. The white petals are obovate and 2–3.5 millimetres (1⁄16–1⁄8 inch) long. The ovaries are hairy. Pedicels are 0–2 mm in length and puberulent. Flowering occurs from February through March[13]
Leaves
Leaf blades are elliptic or obovate, measure 5–16 millimetres (1⁄4–3⁄4 in) × 3–8 millimetres (0–1⁄4 in), and have a cuneate base. Leaf margins are usually entire but are sometimes irregularly serrated. Leaf surfaces are glabrous. Petioles are 1–2 mm.[13] Leaves are sometimes fasciculate.[7]
Fruit
The fruit is a globose to ovoid drupe 9–12 millimetres (1⁄4–1⁄2 in) in diameter. Drupes are reddish brown and lightly covered in hairs. Mesocarps are leathery to dry and slightly splitting. The seed is an ovoid to subglobose stone. Fruiting occurs in May and June.[13]
Range and Habitat
Texas almond inhabits dry, open grasslands and shrublands generally in calcareous soils over limestone but sometimes in neutral, sandy soils above granite.[16] It is found in rocky streambeds, uplands, hills, slopes, sandy brushy plains, canyons, on ledges,[2] and in rock outcroppings. It is nearly endemic to the Edwards Plateau,[17] with its range extending slightly into the adjacent Tamaulipan mezquital, Trans-Pecos,[12] and chalk ridges of the Texas Blackland Prairies.[18]
Ecology
Seeds are fed upon by the larvae of the weevil Coccotorus pruniphilus,[19] while the leaves are believed to be a host plant for larvae of the moth Ursia furtiva.[20]
Conservation
P. minutiflora is considered Vulnerable by NatureServe[2] and Near Threatened by the IUCN.[1] Its threats are unknown but may include development, invasive species and herbivory by bagworm moths.[2]
Cultivation
Texas almond has value as an ornamental groundcover for dry rocky locations. It is noted for its high benefits to wildlife in wildlife gardens.[21]
