Texas Wildbuds

Spring 2025
Black Gap Management Area

Just east of Big Bend National Park is the Black Gap Wildlife Management Area operated by Texas Parks and Wildlife. The entire area is in a significant drought, but, happily, I was still fortunate to find quite a few plants in bloom, including three new species.

Please contact me if you have any comments or corrections to my IDs. Thank you.

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NEW! Acalypha monostachya
(Round Copperleaf)
6994
Photo Details
Common Name Antelope Horns
Scientific Name Asclepias asperula
Family Apocynaceae
(Dogbane)
Date April 15, 2025
Location Along FM 2627 south of Stillwell's Store, Black Gap WMA, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/250 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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Asclepias asperula
(Antelope Horn)
6842
Photo Details
Common Name Antelope Horns
Scientific Name Asclepias asperula
Family Apocynaceae
(Dogbane)
Date April 15, 2025
Location Along FM 2627 south of Stillwell's Store, Black Gap WMA, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/250 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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Dalea formosa
(Feather Dalea)
6568
Photo Details
Common Name Feather Dalea, Featherplume
Scientific Name Dalea formosa
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date April 14, 2025
Location Along FM 2627 south of Stillwell's Store, Black Gap WMA, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/100 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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Guaiacum angustifolium
(Soapweed)
6660
Photo Details
Common Name Soapweed, Guyacan
Scientific Name Guaiacum angustifolium
(Porlieria angustifolia)
Family Zygophyllaceae
(Caltrop)
Date April 14, 2025
Location Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/160 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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Echinocereus enneacanthus ssp. enneacanthus
(Strawberry Hedgehog Cactus)
6764
Photo Details
Common Name Stawberry Hedgehog Cactus
Scientific Name Echinocereus enneacanthus ssp. enneacanthus
Family Cactaceae
(Cactus)
Date April 14, 2025
Location Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/100 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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Fouquieria splendens
(Ocotillo)
6516
Photo Details
Common Name Ocotillo
Scientific Name Fouquieria splendens
Family Fouquieriaceae
(Ocotillo)
Date April 14, 2025
Location Along FM 2627 south of Stillwell's Store, Black Gap WMA, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/500 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Heliotropium confertifolium
(Leafy Heliotrope)
6484
Photo Details
Common Name Leafy Heliotrope
Scientific Name Heliotropium confertifolium
(Euploca confertifolia)
Family Boraginaceae
(Forget-me-not)
Date April 14, 2025
Location Along FM 2627 south of Stillwell's Store, Black Gap WMA, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/100 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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Jatropha dioica
(Leatherstem)
6704
Photo Details
Common Name Leatherstem
Scientific Name Jatropha dioica var. graminea
Family Euphorbiaceae
(Spurge)
Date April 14, 2025
Location Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 160 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/250 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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Larrea tridentata
(Creosote Bush)
6495
Photo Details
Common Name Creosote Bush
Scientific Name Larrea tridentata
Family Zygophyllaceae
(Caltrop)
Date April 14, 2025
Location Along FM 2627 south of Stillwell's Store near Black Gap WMA, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/160 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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Nerisyrenia camporum
(Bicolor Mustard)
6390
Photo Details
Common Name Bicolor Mustard
Scientific Name Nerisyrenia camporum
(Mesa greggii)
Family Brassicaceae
(Mustard)
Date April 15, 2025
Location Along FM 2627 south of Stillwell's Store near Black Gap WMA, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/160 sec.
ISO 200
More Photos and Plant Details
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Porophyllum scoparium
(Shrubby Poreleaf)
6832
Photo Details
Common Name Shrubby Poreleaf, Trans-Pecos Poreleaf
Scientific Name Porophyllum scoparium
Family Asteraceae
(Sunflower)
Date April 15, 2025
Location Along FM 2627 south of Stillwell's Store near Black Gap WMA, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/250 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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Parthenium incanum
(Mariola)
6732
Photo Details
Common Name Mariola
Scientific Name Parthenium incanum
Family Asteraceae
(Sunflower)
Date April 14, 2025
Location Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/160 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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Ruellia parryi
(Parry’s Wild Petunia)
6683
Photo Details
Common Name Parry's Wild Petunia
Scientific Name Ruellia parryi
Family Acanthaceae
(Acanthus)
Date April 14, 2025
Location Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/160 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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Selaginella lepidophylla
(Flower of Stone)
6725
Photo Details
Common Name Flower of Stone, Resurrection Plant
Scientific Name Selaginella lepidophylla
Family Selaginellaceae
(Spikemoss)
Date April 14, 2025
Location Black Gap Wildlife Management Area, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/320 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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Senna bauhinioides
(Twinleaf Senna)
6459
Photo Details
Common Name Twinleaf Senna
Scientific Name Senna bauhiniodes
(Cassia bauhinioides)
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date April 14, 2025
Location Along FM 2627 south of Stillwell's Store near Black Gap WMA, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/50 sec.
ISO 200
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Tiquilia canascens var. canescens
(Woody Crinklemat)
7044
Photo Details
Common Name Woody Crinklemat
Scientific Name Tiquilia canescens var.canescens
(Coldenia canescens)
Family Boraginaceae
(Forget-me-not)
Date April 15, 2025
Location Along FM 2627 south of Stillwell's Store near Black Gap WMA, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/50 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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Tiquilia hispidissima
(Hairy Crinklemat)
7024
Photo Details
Common Name Hairy Crinklemat
Scientific Name Tiquilia hispidissima
(Coldenia hispidissima)
Family Boraginaceae
(Forget-me-not)
Date April 15, 2025
Location Along FM 2627 south of Stillwell's Store near Black Gap WMA, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/125 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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Vachellia vernicosa
(Viscid Acacia)
6562
Photo Details
Common Name Viscid Acacia
Scientific Name Vachellia vernicosa
(Acacia neovernicosa)
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date April 14, 2025
Location Along FM 2627 south of Stillwell's Store near Black Gap WMA, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 78 mm
Aperture f/14
Speed 1/500 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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Yucca faxonia
(Giant Dagger Yucca)
6353
Photo Details
Common Name Giant Dagger Yucca, Faxon Yucca
Scientific Name Yucca faxonia
Family Asparagaceae
(Asparagus) formerly Agavaceae
Date April 14, 2025
Location Along FM 2627 south of Stillwell's Store near Black Gap WMA, Brewster County
Camera Nikon D810
Lens 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 78 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/160 sec.
ISO 100
More Photos and Plant Details

Banner photo of Castilleja indivisa and Lupinus ssp. taken along FM 1323 north of Johnson City, Blanco County

© Tom Lebsack 2025