Ashy Dogweed

(Thymophylla tephroleuca)

Date of Listing: Endangered, 1984

© Photo courtesy Paul M. Montgomery

Ashy dogweed is a herbaceous perennial wildflower. It gets its name from the ashy grayish-green color of the stems and leaves. The stems and very thin leaves (1/2 inch long and 1/8 inch wide) are covered with tiny woolly white hairs which are responsible for the distinctive color. Under favorable conditions, ashy dogweed forms dense, circular clumps. Numerous flowers cover the plants after rains, creating a beautiful sight. During dry times, the plants become brittle and dry and the color appears gray to almost white. The small, cup-like empty seed heads remain on the ends of the stem for some time.

Note: Special thanks to the photographers for providing images of Texas endangered and threatened plants. All rights to these images are reserved. Educational use permitted.

Limited distribution. Restricted to unique soils found in South Texas.

Size:

Almost 1 foot tall and more or less circular in shape.

Habitat (where it lives):

The known populations of ashy dogweed are located on the sandy pockets of Maverick-Catarina, Copita-Zapata, and Nueces-Comita soils of southern Webb and northern Zapata counties. These sands range in depth from shallow to very deep. Although ashy dogweed has been observed in areas where the ground has been disturbed, it is not known whether this species actually prefers disturbance or if it grows equally well on disturbed and nondisturbed sites. Historically, ashy dogweed was found in Starr County, but it has not been seen there since 1932.

Range (where found in Texas):

South Texas Brush Country, Starr (historical), Webb, and Zapata Counties, Texas.

Reproduction:

About the size of a penny, the composite (or daisy-like) flowers have 10 to 15 bright, golden yellow "petals" with a yellow center.

Population Numbers:

6 populations in northern Zapata County and southern Webb Counties.