Texas Wildbuds

Spring 2026
Falcon State Park

After spending a few days in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, we headed upstream to Falcon State Park. This park is on the north shore of Falcon International Reservoir, formed by the damming of the Rio Grande. The Park yielded many flowering plants, including 19 new species for this collection. All the new ones we found are listed in the table below, and I’ll have all of them processed before long.

On our way back to Austin we stopped for a couple nights at Lake Casa Blanca in Laredo…click here to see the plants we found there.

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

New Species from Falcon State Park
Abutilon abutiloides
Aloysia macrostachya
Croton ciliatoglandulifer
Dicliptera sexangularis
Ebenopsis ebano
Hibiscus martianus
Indigofera spicata
Jatropha dioica var. dioica
Krameria ramosissima
Lantana velutina
Lippia origanoides
Malpighia glabra
Melampodium cinereum
Melochia tomentosa
Parkinsonia texana
Phaulothamnus spinescens
Schaefferia cuneifolia
Senegalia berlandieri
Thymophylla tenuiloba

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NEW! Aloysia macrostachya
(Rio Grande Beebrush)
4145
Photo Details
Common Name Rio Grande Beebrush, Woolly Beebrush, Sweet Stem
Scientific Name Aloysia macrostachya
Family Verbenaceae
(Verbena)
Date March 26, 2026
Location Butterfly Garden, Falcon Lake, Starr County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/250 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Castela erecta ssp. texana
(Texan Goatbush)
4237
Photo Details
Common Name Texan Goatbush, Amargosa
Scientific Name Castela erecta ssp. texana
Family Simaroubaceae
(Quassia)
Date March 26, 2026
Location Whitebrush Trail, Falcon State Park, Starr County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/640 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Croton ciliatoglandulifer
(Mexican Croton)
3963
Photo Details
Common Name Mexican Croton, Bush Croton
Scientific Name Croton ciliatoglandulifer
Family Euphorbiaceae
(Spurge)
Date March 26, 2026
Location Butterfly Garden, Falcon State Park, Starr County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Ebenopsis ebano
(Texas Ebony)
3986
Photo Details
Common Name Texas Ebony
Scientific Name Ebenopsis ebano
(Pithecellobium flexicaule)
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date March 26, 2026
Location Butterfly Farm, Falcon State Park, Starr County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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Eysenhardtia texana
(Texas Kidneywood)
4096
Photo Details
Common Name Texas Kidneywood, Bee-brush
Scientific Name Eysenhardtia texana
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date March 26, 2026
Location Butterfly Farm, Falcon State Park, Starr County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/80 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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Guaiacum angustifolium
(Soapbush)
4304
Photo Details
Common Name Soapbush, Guyacan
Scientific Name Guaiacum angustifolium
(Polieria angustifolia)
Family Zygophyllaceae
(Caltrop)
Date March 27, 2026
Location Whitebrush Trail, Falcon State Park, Starr County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/125 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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Justicia pilosella
(Gregg’s Tube-tongue)
4359
Photo Details
Common Name Gregg's Tube-tongue
Scientific Name Justicia pilosella
Family Acanthaceae
(Acanthus)
Date March 27, 2026
Location Roadrunner Trail, Falcon State Park, Starr County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/125 sec.
ISO 1600
More Photos and Plant Details
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Leucophyllum frutescens
(Cenizo)
3925
Photo Details
Common Name Cenizo, Texas Purple Sage, Texas Barometer-bush
Scientific Name Leucophyllum frutescens
Family Scrophulariaceae
(Figwort)
Date March 26, 2026
Location Trail to Butterfly Garden, Falcon State Park, Starr County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 160 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/30 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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Salvia ballotiflora
(Shrubby Blue Sage)
4087
Photo Details
Common Name Shrubby Blue Sage
Scientific Name Salvia ballotiflora
Family Lamiaceae
(Mint)
Date March 26, 2026
Location Butterfly Garden, Falcon State Park, Starr County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/100 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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Salvia coccinea
(Tropical Sage)
3967
Photo Details
Common Name Tropical Sage, Blood Sage
Scientific Name Salvia coccinea
Family Lamiaceae
(Mint)
Date March 26, 2026
Location Butterfly Garden, Falcon State Park, Starr County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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Thamnosma texana
(Dutchman’s Breeches)
4428
Photo Details
Common Name Dutchman's Breeches, Desert Rue
Scientific Name Thamnosma texana
Family Rutaceae
(Rue)
Date March 26, 2026
Location Mesquite Bend Camping Area, Falcon State Park, Starr County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/50 sec.
ISO 800
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 2026

Every attempt is made to provide accurate, up-to-date, and relevant information, but the completeness or accuracy of any information presented on this website cannot be guaranteed. I use authoritative references to insure high standards of accuracy and review and update the information frequently. Please contact me if you find errors.