Stuck As Tight As a Thorn Through a Pant Leg

The Granjeno, as it is most commonly called in much of South Texas, may be best known for its prominently zigzagged branches. It is also known as a Desert Hackberry. Celtis pallida (yes, it is also known as Palo Blanco) is a close cousin of Sugar Hackberry (Celtis laevigata) and Netleaf Hackberry (Celtis reticulata) and is just as important a plant for wildlife as its two larger cousins.

Unfortunately, another common name for this shrub that has stuck as tight as a thorn through a pant leg is Spiny Hackberry. Remember, spines are modified leaves and thorns are modified branches. If one looks close enough at the Spiny Hackberry, it can easily be seen there are leaves growing from the "spines" much like Bluewood Condalia and Lotebush. These are in fact short twigs with terminal thorns:

The Granjeno grows throughout the South Texas Brush Country and the Big Bend Region of Texas. It is the larval host plant for the American Snout and the Empress Leilia butterflies. Its bright orange berries that ripen in late summer and early fall are another critical food source for migratory birds and other wildlife.

This set of photographs was taken along the Yanaguana Nature Trail at Mission San Juan in the San Antonio Missions National Historical Park on Monday, October 28, 2013

This is the second post in a multi-post series. Part 1 is "A Brief Introduction to a Very Thorny Subject."