Netleaf Bundleflower (Wildlife and Wildflowers of Texas - Wildflowers Pt. 1)

Netleaf Bundleflower

Desmanthus reticulatus

Blooming Season ³

March-May

Identification ³

(1) Perennial herb with alternate bipinnate leaves, growing to around 1-3 feet in height.

Habitat ³

(1) Limestone and caliche uplands. Endemic: South-central Texas, west to Edwards County, northeast to Travis County and southeast to San Patricia County.
(2) Desmanthus reticulatus occurs sparingly in a variety of grasslands on deep to shallow clays and clay loams. Desmanthus reticulatus is endemic to the Edwards Plateau and coastal plain of central and south Texas, with reports from Bexar, Comal, Gonzales, Kleberg, Kerr, Live Oak, San Patricio, Travis, Uvalde and Wilson counties.

Ecological Importance ³

(2) Desmanthus reticulatus is a Texas regional endemic known from fewer than 25 collections from 10 counties. Threatened by land conversion to agriculture, invasion by exotic grasses, and fire suppression. Luckow (1993) considered the species "undoubtedly endangered" by conversion of blackland prairie to agriculture. Invasion of exotics, particularly Bothriochloa ischaemum var. songarica and other aggressive perennial grasses, and fire suppression are general threats to eastern Texas prairie species that presumably apply to this species.