Texas Wildbuds

Spring 2026
Lower Rio Grande Valley

We visited the Rio Grande Valley again in March, 2026, during the persistent drought. Three days were spent from a base in Mission visiting two state parks: Bensten-Rio Grande Valley in Mission and Resaca de la Palma near Brownville, plus the Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge near Alamo. This was followed by a stay up the Rio Grande at Falcon Lake. 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.

The Valley yielded many flowering plants, including 15 new species for this collection. All the new ones we found are listed in the table below.

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

New Species from Rio Grande Valley
Adelia vaseyi
Argemone aenea
Argemone sanguinea
Capraria mexicana
Castela erecta
Dicliptera sexangularis
Ehretia anacua
Erythrostemon mexicanus
Indigofera spicata
Justicia turnerii
Leucaena pulverulenta
Neonesomia  palmeri
Tamaulipa azurea
Tillandsia usneoides
Vachellia bravoensis

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NEW! Adelia vaseyi
(Vasey’s Wild Lime)
3781
Photo Details
Common Name Vasey's Wild Lime, Vasey's Adelia
Scientific Name Adelia vaseyi
Family Euphorbiaceae
(Spurge)
Date March 24, 2026
Location Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Alamo, Hidalgo County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 200 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 200 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/200 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Argemone aenea
(Golden Prickly Poppy)
3833
Photo Details
Common Name Golden Prickly Poppy
Scientific Name Argemone aenea
Family Papaveraceae
(Poppy)
Date March 25, 2026
Location US Business 83 and S. Bentsen Palm Drive, Palmview, Hidalgo County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 116mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Argemone sanguinea
(Rose Prickly Poppy)
3849
Photo Details
Common Name Rose Prickly Poppy, Red Prickly Poppy
Scientific Name Argemone sanguinea
Family Papaveraceae
(Poppy)
Date March 25, 2026
Location US Business 83 and S. Bentsen Palm Drive, Palmview, Hidalgo County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 150mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/100 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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Boerhavia coccinea
(Scarlet Spiderling)
3869
Photo Details
Common Name Scarlet Spiderling
Scientific Name Boerhavia coccinea
Family Nyctaginaceae
(Four O'clock)
Date March 25, 2026
Location Bentsen Palms RV Park, Mission, Hidalgo County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4.5-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/40 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Capraria mexicana
(Tamaulipan Tea)
3721
Photo Details
Common Name Tamaulipan Tea, Mexican Goatweed
Scientific Name Capraria mexicana
Family Scrophulariaceae
(Figwort)
Date March 23, 2026
Location Tram Loop, Resaca de la Palma State Park, Brownsville, Cameron County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 200 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 200 mm
Aperture f/20
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Castela erecta ssp. texana
(Texas Goatbush)
3647
Photo Details
Common Name Texas Goatbush, Amargosa
Scientific Name Castela erecta ssp. texana
Family Simaroubaceae (Quassia)
(Quassia)
Date March 23, 2026
Location Mesquite Trail, Resaca de la Palma State Park, Brownsville, Cameron County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 200 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 200 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/400 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Dicliptera sexangularis
(Six-angle Foldwing)
3762
Photo Details
Common Name Six-angle Foldwing
Scientific Name Dicliptera sexangularis
(Dicliptera vahliana)
Family Acanthaceae
(Acanthus)
Date March 24, 2026
Location Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Alamo, Hidalgo County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 200 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 200 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/40 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Ehretia anacua
(Anacua)
3578
Photo Details
Common Name Anacua, Sugarberry
Scientific Name Ehretia anacua
Family Boraginaceae
(Forget-me-not)
Date March 23, 2026
Location Tram Loop, Resaca de la Palma State Park, Brownsville, Cameron County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 200 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 200 mm
Aperture f/20
Speed 1/80 sec.
ISO 400
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Erythrostemon mexicanus
(Mexican Holdback)
3697
Photo Details
Common Name Mexican Holdback, Mexican Bird-of-paradise
Scientific Name Erythrostemon mexicanus
(Caesalpinia mexicana,
Poincianella mexicana)
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date March 23, 2026
Location Ebony Trail, Resaca de la Palma State Park, Brownsville, Cameron County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 200 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 200 mm
Aperture f/20
Speed 1/200 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Indigofera spicata
(Creeping Indigo)
3885
Photo Details
Common Name Creeping Indigo, Trailing Indigo
Scientific Name Indigofera spicata
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date March 25, 2026
Location Bentsen Palms RV Park, Mission, Hidalgo County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 70-180 mm f/4-5.6
Focal Length 180 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/80 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Justicia turneri
(Turner’s Water-willow)
3773
Photo Details
Common Name Turner's Water-willow
Scientific Name Justicia turneri
Family Acanthaceae
(Acanthus)
Date March 24, 2026
Location Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Alamo, Hidalgo County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 200 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 200 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/200 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Leucaena pulverulenta
(Great Leadtree)
3824
Photo Details
Common Name Great Leadtree, Tepeguaja
Scientific Name Leucaena pulverulenta
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date March 24, 2026
Location Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Alamo, Hidalgo County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 200 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 200 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/320 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Neonesomia palmeri
(Texas Desert Goldenrod)
3669
Photo Details
Common Name Texas Desert Goldenrod
Scientific Name Neosomia palmeri
(Medranoa palmeri,
Xylothamia palmeri,
Ericameria austrotexana)
Family Asteraceae
(Sunflower)
Date March 23, 2026
Location Mesquite Trail, Resaca de la Palma State Park, Brownsville, Cameron County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 200 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 200 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/125 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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Parkinsonia aculeata
(Mexican Palo Verde)
3831
Photo Details
Common Name Mexican Paloverde, Paloverde, Jerusalem Thorn, Retama
Scientific Name Parkinsonia aculeata
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date March 24, 2026
Location Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Alamo, Hidalgo County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 200 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 200 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/800 sec.
ISO 2500
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Tillandsia usneoides
(Spanish Moss)
3807
Photo Details
Common Name Spanish Moss
Scientific Name Tillandsia usneoides
Family Bromeliaceae
(Bromeliad)
Date March 24, 2026
Location Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, Alamo, Hidalgo County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 200 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 200 mm
Aperture f/20
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Tamaulipa azurea
(Blue Boneset)
3588
Photo Details
Common Name Blue Boneset, Blueweed
Scientific Name Tamaulipa azurea
(Eupatoreum azureum)
Family Asteraceae
(Sunflower)
Date March 23, 2026
Location Tram Loop, Resaca de la Palma State Park, Brownsville, Cameron County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 200 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 200 mm
Aperture f/16
Speed 1/60 sec.
ISO 800
More Photos and Plant Details
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NEW! Vachellia bravoensis
(Huisachillo)
3676-1
Photo Details
Common Name Huisachillo, Bravo Acacia
Scientific Name Vachellia bravoensis
(Acacia schaffneri var. bravoensis)
Family Fabaceae
(Pea)
Date March 23, 2026
Location Mesquite Trail, Resaca de la Palma State Park, Brownsville, Cameron County
Camera Nikon D850
Lens Nikkor Micro 200 mm f/4.0
Focal Length 200 mm
Aperture f/20
Speed 1/200 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.