| Garrya ovata | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Garryales |
| Family: | Garryaceae |
| Genus: | Garrya |
| Species: |
G. ovata
|
| Binomial name | |
| Garrya ovata | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
|
Fadyenia ovata (Benth.) Endl. | |
Garrya ovata, the eggleaf silktassel, Mexican silktassel, or eggleaf garrya, is a plant species native to New Mexico, Texas, and to central and northern Mexico.
The plant is usually found as an understory species in moist forests, such as Madrean pine-oak woodlands.
Garrya ovata is a shrub up to 6–8 feet (1.8–2.4 m) tall and wide.[2] The leaves are thick and leathery, ovate, up to 10 cm (4 in) long, tomentose on both sides when young, at maturity glabrous above but tomentose below.[3][4][5]
Flowers are arranged in pendulous (hanging) racemes, and are green. It blooms in March through May.[2]
Fruits are dark blue, spherical, up to 8 mm (0.31 in) in diameter.[6]
Three subspecies are currently recognized, regarded by some authors as separate species:[1][7]
Of the three, only Garrya ovata subsp. lindheimeri is found within the United States.
