Tree Description:
A small tree or large thorny shrub, often forming thickets, to 25 feet tall and a trunk to 8" in diameter, with a rounded crown. Light green foliage distinguishes it from other brush species.
Range/Site Description:
Sandy soils in South Texas brush country and along the coastal plain, ranging as far north as Travis County and east to Matagorda County.
Leaf:
Simple, alternate, 0.5" to 1" long, obovate, thin, light green and glossy, evergreen; leaf edge smooth, tip indented. Branchlets often end as a sharp thorn 1" long.
Flower:
Small, greenish, inconspicuous.
Fruit:
A round, black, berry-like drupe, about 0.25" across, appearing sporadically throughout the summer. Favored by wildlife and edible by humans.
Bark:
Green on young twigs, turning brown or gray; older bark dark brown, scaly, breaking into narrow, rough ridges and furrows.
Wood:
Wood is heavy, hard and used for firewood; fruit is used to make jelly.
Similar Species:
Texas persimmon (Diospyros texana) has leathery leaves 1" to 2" long and no thorns.
Interesting Facts:
Bark and wood reportedly yield a blue dye.
