Native Plants
![](../_images/smarty_plants.gif)
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
![](../_images/mr_smarty_plants_logo_web_200w.jpg)
rate this answer
![](../_images/star_00.gif)
Sunday - August 18, 2013
From: Elmendorf, TX
Region: Southwest
Topic: General Botany, Plant Identification
Title: How does Styrax youngiae differ from other Texas Styrax species?
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
How does the Styrax youngae differ from other Texas styrax? Where can I find a description of all the Texas styrax trees?ANSWER:
First of all, Styrax youngiae is no longer a separate species. It is now designated as a subspecies, Styrax platanifolius ssp. youngiae (Young's snowbell), of Styrax platanifolius (Sycamoreleaf snowbell). Here is the Texas county distribution map from the USDA Plants Database. There three other subspecies as well:
Styrax platanifolius ssp. texanus (Texas snow-bell) Here is the Texas county distribution map from the USDA Plants Database.
Styrax platanifolius ssp. platanifolius (Sycamoreleaf snowbell) Here is the Texas county distribution map from the USDA Plants Database.
Styrax platanifolius ssp. stellatus (Hairy sycamore-leaf snow-bell) Here is the Texas county distribution map from the USDA Plants Database.
There are also two other species that occur in Texas:
Styrax americanus (American snowbell) Here is the Texas county distribution map for the USDA Plants Database.
Styrax grandifolius (Bigleaf snowbell) Here is the Texas county distribution map for the USDA Plants Database.
You can see a description of the Genus Styrax in the eFloras.org (Flora of North America) database. You can see that S. platanifolius does not have axillary flowers; whereas, S. americanus and S. grandifolius both have at least some axillary flowers. The difference between S. americanus and S. grandifolius involves differences in the length of the calyces and corolla tubes as well as the type of fruit.
Next, to see the differences between the different subspecies, go to the eFloras.org page for S. platanifolius and you will see that S. platanifolius ssp. platanifolius and S. platanifolius ssp. stellatus has the abaxial surface (the underside) of the leaves mostly glabrous (without hairs) or at least visible through the hairs; whereas, S. platanifolius ssp. texanus and S. platanifolius ssp. youngiae have their abaxial surface covered in pubescence (dense hairs).
S. platanifolius ssp. texanus has glabrous (without hairs) leaf blades adaxially (on the upper leaf surface) and S. platanifolius ssp. youngiae has stellate pubescence (star-shaped hairs) on the adaxial leaf surface. There are also differences in pubescence on stems and other structures.
From the Image Gallery
More Plant Identification Questions
Mystery plant in Vicksburg, MS
May 20, 2008 - I have a strange plant that has come up by a ditch next to my house. I've lived here 23 years and have never seen anything like it. I can only guess that it came up from a packet of wildflower seed...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
August 04, 2012 - Hello Mr. Smarty Plants! I have a plant that was given to me and told it was spider plant, but I don't believe it is. The plat grows up and has leaves coming out like a spider plant but they are gree...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
November 14, 2008 - On our farm we found a plant that we had never seen before. It has long stems coming from center ground level and is about 3 feet tall, looks like a fern from far off. The leaves (length of finger) ...
view the full question and answer
Is there an App for that?
June 05, 2012 - Do you have an app like leafsnap that my students can use to identify the plants around our school? I would like them to take a picture of the leaf of each plant with their iPads and have your data b...
view the full question and answer
Plant identification
January 08, 2012 - When we moved in to this house, we planted many plants in the front landscaping. After they grew, it became too crowded. We had to move some plants to the backyard. The problem is, we have a plant tha...
view the full question and answer
Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |