silktassels

genus Garrya

Member of silktassel family (family Garryaceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

Except for old historical records and extremely rare examples that I don't expect to encounter, there are no other wild species of this genus in the bay area.

---

Key features:

• abaxial leaf hairs
• fruit hairs are also useful, but perhaps cannot fully distinguish species on their own

Hosts silktassel flower gall midge (Asphondylia garryae).

ashy silktassel
Garrya flavescens

• abaxial leaf hairs appressed toward leaf tip
• Del Valle, Coe, Diablo
• POWO merges in G. congdonii, which Jepson and CalFlora consider to be a separate species.

frémont’s silktassel
Garrya fremontii

• abaxial leaf hairs 0 (or sparse on young leaves)
• Coe, Sierra Azul, El Sereno, Mt. Tam, Mt. Diablo

---

1 observed taxon / 2 unobserved taxons / 1 key

Chris’s observations: 9 (7 are research grade)

Locations:

• San Pedro Valley CP: 3
• Skyline Ridge OSP: 2
• Almaden Quicksilver CP
• Foothills Nature Preserve, Palo Alto
• McNee Ranch / Montara Mountain SP
• Sierra Azul OSP

Months:

• Jan.: 2
• Feb.: 2
• Mar.: 0
• Apr.: 0
• May: 1
• Jun.: 1
• Jul.: 2
• Aug.: 1

For more details, use advanced search.

---

Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora