BOTN 201 - Department of Biology - TAMU
Images of the Navasota Flora - 21 May 1995
While the general vegetation cover of the Navasota Flora is defined as Post Oak Savannah and Blackland Prairie, isolated floristic 'islands' can be found embedded with this general matrix. One of these, Moore's Hill Outcrop, can be found northeast of Navasota in Grimes County. This is the home of Agalinis navasotensis, a recently described species known only from this area (see Canne-Hilliker and Dubrule. 1993. A new species of Agalinis (Scrophulariaceae) from Grimes County, Texas. SIDA 15:425)
A conspicuous element of the Moore's Hill flora this time of year, Lygodesmia texana is at the eastern margin of its range on this easternmost escarpment of the Miocene Oakville formation. It is a ligulate composite (Asteraceae - Tribe Cichorieae) with unusual phyllaries and fairly typical fruits. Other 'western' elements of the Moore's Hill flora in flower at this time of year include Phyllanthus polygonoides of the Euphorbiaceae (inflorescence/pistillate flower) and Ungnadia speciosa ('Mexican Buckeye') of the Sapindaceae (fruit/maturing seed).
Endemic to Texas and Oklahoma, the genus Brazoria (Lamiaceae) includes only four species. This one, B. scutellarioides, is not typical of the Edwards Plateau or western Texas. Its presence in the Moore's Hill flora might reflect the slightly alkaline (pH 7.4-7.6) or sandy nature of the local substrate. As indicated by its specific epithet, B. scutellarioides resembles (side view/pair of flowers) the 'Skullcap' genus (Scutellaria), but lacks the distinct calyx (see fruiting Brazoria calyx).
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Last updated by HDW on 22 May 1995
