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Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?

A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.

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Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.

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Friday - July 01, 2005

From: Altadena, CA
Region: California
Topic: Trees
Title: Smarty Plants on Ebenopsis
Answered by: Nan Hampton

QUESTION:

Why is the Texas Ebony, genus Pithecolobium, not in your database? Is it not a native? Thanks.

ANSWER:

The genus name Pithecellobium has changed to Ebenopsis. The currently accepted scientific name is Ebenopsis ebano.

There are four synonyms, or older names:

Pithecellobium ebano
Pithecellobium flexicaule
Mimosa ebano
Chloroleucon ebano


Texas Ebony is native to Texas and is in the National Plants Database. However, we don't have a photograph; but there are pictures and more informatiion on the Texas A&M University horticulture database.
 

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Want to identify caterpillar that is stripping prickly ash in Flatonia, Tx.
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August 21, 2013 - Dear Mr Smarty Plants, we are looking for shade trees to plant around our home in Kempner, Tx. I saw another family that asked a similar question but we have dogs and holly or oak trees are toxic (my...
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