DIVISION 1. PTERIDOPHYTA
LYCOPODIACEAE CLUB-MOSS FAMILY
Lycopodiella prostrata (R. M. Harper) Cranfill. Lycopodium prostratum R. M. Harper; Lycopodium alopecuroides L. var. pinnatum (Chapm.) Lloyd & Underw. CREEPING CLUB-MOSS. Native perennial. Reported from Travis County by Correll (1956) on the basis of a single specimen, B. C. Tharp s.n., purportedly collected from a Blackland Prairie site; the disposition of this specimen was not provided. It is possible that a Tharp specimen at TEX-LL, collected 15 Oct 1939 from Austin County, was mistakenly attributed to the city of Austin and thus to Travis County. Lycopodiella prostrata occurs mainly in mesic to wet pine forests of the southeastern United States, and its presence in Travis County seems unlikely.
Specimens: None at TEX-LL, Mar 1996. Previous Travis County floras: none. References: Correll, 1956; Wagner & Beitel, 1993.
SELAGINELLACEAE SPIKE-MOSS FAMILY
Selaginella apoda (L.) Spring. Selaginella apus (L.) Spring. MEADOW SPIKE-MOSS. Native perennial. Rare on wet rocks near shaded springs and seeps, occasionally on stream banks and other perennially moist and at least partially shaded sites.
Specimens: West Cave, on moist bank of brook, 8 Dec 1939, F. McAllister s.n. (TEX-LL); Watkins Ranch, cypress bog, 8 Oct 1948, Tharp et al. 53-570 (TEX-LL); lakeside bluff, J. B. Watkins Ranch, 29 Jul 1950, B. C. Tharp & C. S. York 50-39 (TEX-LL); Watkins Ranch above Cow Creek on Lake Travis, 2 Jun 1951, B. C. Tharp et al. 51-957 (TEX-LL); seep-moistened exposures of Edwards Limestone on floor of damp rock shelter in N-facing bluff, S bank of Bear Creek ca. 0.85 airmiles NW of int. of Bliss Spillar Rd. and Gunsmith Dr., 24 Nov 1999, W. R. Carr & J. Maresh 18644 (TEX-LL). Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920. References: Correll, 1956; Valdespino, 1993.
Selaginella arenicola Underw. subsp. riddellii (Van Eselt.) Tryon. Selaginella riddellii Van Eselt. RIDDELL SPIKE-MOSS. Native perennial. Rather common in unshaded areas on sandy, gravelly soils derived from igneous rocks of the Llano Uplift, as well as in deep sandy soils over Eocene deposits on the coastal plain. In northwestern Travis County it is local in dry sandy soils over ancient Colorado River terrace deposits derived at least in part from igneous rocks of the Llano Uplift, and may still be present in undeveloped patches of post oak woodland on similar substrates within the city of Austin. Apparently rare in or absent from limestone soils.
Specimens: Post oak ridges west of Austin, 12 Jan 1901, W. H. Long s.n. (TEX-LL); dry ground, post oak woods, Austin, no date, M. S. Young s.n. (TEX-LL); gravelly hills near Austin, 20 May 1944, B. C. Tharp 44027 (BRIT/SMU, TEX-LL); locally abundant in well drained cobbly sandy soils over Pleistocene Colorado River terrace deposits, in open post oak-Ashe juniper woodland on moderate slope, ca. 500 ft. W of Singleton Rd. ca. 0.7 mi. S of Post Oak Bend Cemetery, S end of Gloster Bend Resource Area, 23 Apr 1991, W. R. Carr & P. McNeal 11111 (TEX-LL). Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920. References: Correll, 1956; Valdespino, 1993.
Selaginella wrightii Hieron. WRIGHT SPIKE-MOSS. Native perennial. Of doubtful status, included here solely on the basis of an apparently unvouchered report from Wild Basin (Williams, 1977). In the western part of the Edwards Plateau, this spike-moss is commonly encountered in very shallow soils on otherwise barren limestone exposures.
Specimens: None at TEX-LL, Mar 1996. Previous Travis County floras: none. References: Correll, 1956; Valdespino, 1993.
ISOETACEAE QUILLWORT FAMILY
Isoetes melanopoda Gay & Durieu. BLACKFOOT QUILLWORT. Native perennial. Rare in seasonally wet soils in open areas. Easily overlooked, perhaps more common in Travis County than indicated by the dearth of collections.
Specimens: Wet clay on seep on unshaded W bank of Shoal Creek ca. 200-300 ft. S of 45th St., Austin, 17 Jun 1986, W. R. Carr 7590 (BRIT/SMU) and 29 Jun 1986, W. R. Carr 7669 (UVST). Previous Travis County floras: none. References: Correll, 1956; Taylor et al., 1993.
EQUISETACEAE HORSETAIL FAMILY
Equisetum hyemale L. subsp. affine (Engelm.) J. Calder & R. L. Taylor. Equisetum robustum A. Braun var. affine Engelm.; Equisetum prealtum Raf. WINTER HORSETAIL. Native perennial. Uncommon in moist soils along shaded to unshaded banks of rivers and creeks and shorelines of impoundments.
Specimens: Barton Creek, banks in shaded position, 15 Jan 1901, A. M. Ferguson s.n. (TEX-LL); Barton Creek, 1927, J. F. Normand s.n. (TEX-LL); Barton Creek, 15 Mar 1929, F. Normand s.n. (TEX-LL); lakeside bluff, J. B. Watkins Ranch, 29 Jul 1950, B. C. Tharp & C. S. York 50-38 (TEX-LL); Watkins Ranch above Cow Creek on Lake Travis, 2 Jun 1951, B. C. Tharp et al. 51-960 (TEX-LL). Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920; Lynch, 1974. References: Correll, 1956; Hauke, 1993.
Equisetum laevigatum A. Braun. Equisetum kansanum J. H. Schaffner. SMOOTH HORSETAIL. Native perennial. Uncommon in moist soils along shaded to unshaded banks of rivers and creeks and shorelines of impoundments.
Specimens: Moist sandy bank of Lake Austin at Lake Austin (Emma Long) City Park, 21 Apr 1985, W. R. Carr 6358 (SEU). Previous Travis County floras: none. Other reports: West Cave Preserve (Lemke et al., 1984). References: Correll, 1956; Hauke, 1993.
OPHIOGLOSSACEAE ADDER'S-TONGUE FAMILY
Ophioglossum engelmannii Prantl. ADDER'S-TONGUE. Native perennial. Apparently rare, collected from moist soil along Bull Creek and reported from "rich soil in woods near [Tom Miller] dam" (Young, 1920). No recent reports or specimens.
Specimens: Moist soil, Bull Creek near the head, 22 May 1918, M. S. Young s.n. (TEX-LL); Austin, 6 Oct 1923, R. H. Painter s.n. (TEX-LL). Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920. References: Correll, 1956; Wagner & Wagner, 1993.
OSMUNDACEAE ROYAL FERN FAMILY
Osmunda regalis L. var. spectabilis (Willd.) Gray. ROYAL FERN. Native perennial. Of doubtful status in our area, included solely on the basis of a 1901 specimen collected by Bray and Long. Although correctly determined, it seems likely that the specimen's attribution to Travis County is erroneous. The accompanying label originally read "Anemia mexicana," which suggests the possibility that the label and the specimen are unrelated, i.e., that Bray and Long collected Anemia mexicana in Travis County but at some later date their label became attached to someone else's specimen of Osmunda regalis from a location probably far to the east. Royal fern is a denizen of mesic forests throughout much of the eastern half of North America; its presence in Travis County would be quite unexpected and noteworthy if true.
Specimens: [To county only], Feb 1901, Bray & Long s.n. (TEX-LL). Previous Travis County floras: none. References: Correll, 1956; Whetstone & Atkinson, 1993.
ANEMIACEAE NAKED FERN FAMILY
Anemia mexicana Klotzsch. MEXICAN FERN. Native perennial. A species of the Edwards Plateau and northern Mexico, here at or near the northeastern limit of its current distribution. Occasional in steep rocky wooded limestone canyons; apparently more common south of the Colorado River than north.
Specimens: Ten miles up Colorado River from Austin, 9 Feb 1901, Bray & Long s.n. (TEX-LL); Austin, 6 Apr 1918, M. S. Young s.n. (TEX-LL); limestone gorge, 6 Apr 1918, M. S. Young s.n. (TEX-LL); near Austin, 22 Apr 1918, M. S. Young s.n. (TEX-LL); Devil's Canyon, 25 Nov 1984, W. R. Carr 6173 (BRIT/SMU, UVST, TEX-LL); Barton Creek near Scottish Woods Trail, 30 June 1988, W. R. Carr & D. A. Brown 9035 (TEX-LL); juniper-oak woodland in limestone canyon, ca. 2.1 airmiles NW of jct. St. Rt. 71 and R.M. 620, 23 Oct 1992, W. R. Carr, D. Keddy-Hector & P. Turner 12481 (TEX-LL); rare in loamy duff on steep slope of Glen Rose Limestone, wooded mesic limestone canyon at NE corner of Sandy Creek County Park, 2 Jul 1990, W. R. Carr 15590 (TEX-LL). Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920. References: Correll, 1956; Mickel, 1993.
PTERIDACEAE MAIDENHAIR FERN FAMILY
Adiantum capillus-veneris L. SOUTHERN MAIDENHAIR FERN. Native perennial. Common on wet, seepy limestone cliff-faces, often occurring as horizontal bands rooted in a layer of crumbly marl or travertine immediately above a layer of impermeable rock.
Specimens: Numerous sheets at TEX-LL, Mar 1996. Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920; Lynch, 1974. References: Correll, 1956; Windham, 1993.
Argyrochosma dealbata (Pursh) M. Windham. Notholaena dealbata (Pursh) Kunze. POWDERY CLOAKFERN. Native perennial. Uncommon, epipetric, often on dry solution-pitted rimrock along wooded limestone ravines, often with Cheilanthes alabamensis, Cheilanthes horridula and Asplenium resiliens.
Specimens: bluff, Onion Creek, 25 Apr 1913, M. S. Young s.n. (TEX-LL); dry rock crevices along the Pedernales, 12 mi NW of Bee Cave, 23 July 1947, D. S. Correll 13417 (TEX-LL); face of limestone cliff, Lake Travis, ca. 2 mi above Cow Creek, 22 May 1956, B. C. Tharp s.n. (TEX-LL); Pedernales River bridge on St. Rt. 71, 14 Nov 1968, D. Seigler & W. Renold 979 (TEX-LL), 26 Apr 1969, D. Seigler & E. Rodriguez 1198 (TEX-LL); top of cliffs downstream from Miller Dam on Colorado River, 8 Jan 1969, D. Seigler 1035 (TEX-LL); Bull Creek, 29 Mar 1984, W. R. Carr 5982 (TEX-LL); dry, partially shaded limestone outcrops on rimrock at top of slope on S side of Nauman Cove, near SW edge of Pace Bend Park, 16 Apr 1991, W. R. Carr 11073 (TEX-LL). Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920; Lynch, 1974. References: Correll, 1956; Windham, 1993.
Astrolepis integerrima (Hook.) D. Benham & M. Windham. Cheilanthes integerrima (Hook.) Mickel; Notholaena sinuata (Lag.) Kaulf. var. integerrima Hook. WAVYLEAF CLOAKFERN. Native perennial. A species of epipetric habits, common on dry limestone outcrops farther west on the Edwards Plateau but rare in Travis County. No recent reports or specimens.
Specimens: Austin, upper Barton Creek, 2 May 1924, R. H. Painter s.n. (TEX-LL). Previous Travis County floras: none. References: Correll, 1956; Windham, 1993.
Cheilanthes alabamensis (Buckl.) Kunze. ALABAMA LIPFERN. Native perennial. Common in humus and loamy soils and on dry limestone outcrops in wooded ravines.
Specimens: Numerous sheets at TEX-LL, 1991. Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920; Lynch, 1974. References: Correll, 1956; Windham, 1993.
Cheilanthes horridula Maxon. ROUGH LIPFERN. Native perennial. Uncommon, epipetric on dry limestone outcrops in wooded ravines or on exposed rimrock, often with Cheilanthes alabamensis.
Specimens: Dry bluff near head of Bull Creek, East Branch, 22 May 1918, E. J. Palmer s.n. (TEX-LL); about 6 mi NW of Bee Cave, 23 Jul 1946, D. S. Correll 13413 (TEX-LL); limestone exposures of Mt. Bonnell near Austin, 24 Jun 1946, C. C. Albers, F. A. Barkley & B. H. Warnock 46454 (TEX-LL); limestone outcrops on steep S-facing slope, S side of Barton Creek, 100-200 ft. E of Loop 360 bridge, Barton Creek Greenbelt, 15 Dec 1990, W. R. Carr 10913 (TEX-LL). Previous Travis County floras: none. References: Correll, 1956; Windham, 1993.
Pellaea atropurpurea (L.) Link. PURPLE CLIFFBRAKE. Native perennial. Common in loamy soils in rocky wooded limestone ravines; also on limestone rock outcrops, often with Cheilanthes alabamensis.
Specimens: Canyon below dam on Colorado River, Jan 1901, A. M. Ferguson s.n. (TEX-LL); near mouth of Bull Creek on leaf mould, shady moist gorge, 20 Apr 1901, A. M. Ferguson s.n. (TEX-LL); on river bank above Austin, Bull Creek, 21 Apr 1901, A. M. Ferguson s.n. (TEX-LL); Austin, 10 Oct 1907, H. H. York s.n. (TEX-LL); limestone ledge, Austin, 20 May 1933, B. C. Tharp s.n. (TEX-LL); Bull Creek, 3 Oct 1945, B. H. Warnock 45-38 (TEX-LL); Bull Creek, 22 Apr 1984, W. R. Carr 6046 (TEX-LL). Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920; Lynch, 1974. References: Correll, 1956; Windham, 1993.
Pellaea ovata (Desv.) Weath. Pellaea flexuosa (Kaulf.) Link. ZIGZAG CLIFFBRAKE. Native perennial. Uncommon, epipetric on exposed limestone or in dry humus and clay on rubble slopes in wooded ravines; more common south of the Colorado River than north.
Specimens: Correll (1956) cited several specimens from Travis County; material at TEX-LL was on loan in Mar 1996 and was not examined. Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920; Lynch, 1974. Other reports: Travis Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary (Lyter, 1986). References: Correll, 1956; Windham, 1993.
Pellaea wrightiana Hook. Pellaea ternifolia (Cav.) Link. var. wrightiana (Hook.) A. Tryon. WRIGHT CLIFFBRAKE. Native perennial. Common on dry granite and gneiss exposures in the Llano Uplift area just to the northwest, but known in Travis County from a single specimen (S. B. Buckley s.n., disposition and date not provided) cited by Correll (1956).
Specimens: None at TEX-LL, Mar 1996. Previous Travis County floras: none. References: Correll, 1956; Windham, 1993.
THELYPTERIDACEAE MARSH FERN FAMILY
Thelypteris ovata St. John var. lindheimeri (C. Chr.) A. R. Sm. Thelypteris kunthii (Desv.) Morton, in part; Dryopteris normalis Christ. var. lindheimeri Christ. LINDHEIMER SHIELDFERN. Native perennial. Frequent in moist loamy to silty soil along shaded banks of rivers and perennial streams; occasionally with Adiantum capillus-veneris on seepy limestone cliff faces and undisturbed travertine deposits.
Specimens: Bull Creek, 5 Sep 1982, W. R. Carr 4283 (TEX-LL). Additional specimens were cited by Correll (1956). Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920 (as Dryopteris patens). References: Correll, 1956; Smith, 1993c.
ASPLENIACEAE SPLEENWORT FAMILY
Asplenium resiliens Kunze. LITTLE EBONY SPLEENWORT. Native perennial. Uncommon, usually epipetric on dry solution-pitted rimrock along wooded limestone ravines, often with Cheilanthes alabamensis and Cheilanthes horridula.
Specimens: Numerous sheets at TEX-LL, 1991. Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920; Lynch, 1974. References: Correll, 1956; Wagner, Moran & Werth, 1993.
DRYOPTERIDACEAE WOOD FERN FAMILY
Cyrtomium falcatum (L. f.) Presl. ASIAN HOLLYFERN. Introduced perennial. An ornamental widely utilized in Austin landscapes, locally naturalized in shaded rock shelters of Stillhouse Hollow in the Bull Creek watershed, where it occurs in large numbers on moist limestone boulders fallen from rimrock, a habitat normally occupied by Aquilegia canadensis, Adiantum capillus-veneris, Thelypteris ovata var. lindheimeri, etc. No other naturalized populations are presently known from our area.
Specimens: Apparently naturalized on moist limestone boulders in rock shelter at springs, Stillhouse Hollow, Bull Creek, 31 Oct 1982, W. R. Carr 4492 (UVST) and 14 Apr 1984, W. R. Carr 6019 (BRIT/SMU). Previous Travis County floras: none. References: Smith, 1993a.
Woodsia obtusa (Spreng.) Torr. COMMON WOODSIA. Native perennial. Common in sandy to loamy soils in mesic woodlands to the east, and on intermittently wet outcrops of granite and gneiss in the Llano Uplift to the northwest, but apparently rare in Travis County. No recent reports or specimens.
Specimens: none at TEX-LL in Mar 1996. Correll (1956) cited one specimen from Travis County: Palmer 12140 (disposition not provided; date probably 1919). Previous Travis County floras: none. References: Correll, 1956; Smith, 1993a.
POLYPODIACEAE POLYPODY FAMILY
Polypodium polypodioides (L.) Watt. var. michauxianum Weath. RESURRECTION FERN. Native perennial. An epiphytic fern of the southeastern United States, here at the southwestern limit of its distribution. There are apparently no recent specimens from our area, but Tom Patterson (pers. comm., 11 May 1996) reported seeing a large population in trees along a stretch of Bee Creek near Toro Canyon Road during the 1980's.
Specimens: On oak, Pease Park, Austin, 15 Dec 1901, W. H. Long, Jr. s.n. (TEX-LL); near dam, Austin, 13 Feb 1916, B. C. Tharp s.n. (TEX-LL). Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920. References: Correll, 1956; Smith, 1993b.
MARSILEACEAE WATER-CLOVER FAMILY
Marsilea macropoda A. Braun. BIGFOOT WATER-CLOVER. Native perennial. Apparently rare in wet soils of creekbottoms and riverbanks.
Specimens: material at TEX-LL was on loan in Mar 1996 and was not examined. However, Johnson (1986) cited two specimens: Shoal Creek, Austin, 15 Apr 1901, Long s.n. (GH, MO, NY, TAES, TEX-LL); Austin, Colorado River floodplain, 11 Mar 1928, B. C. Tharp s.n. (B, NY, PH, US). Previous Travis County floras: Lynch, 1974. References: Correll, 1956; Johnson, 1986; Johnson, 1993.
Marsilea vestita Hook. & Grev. Marsilea mucronata A. Braun.; Marsilea uncinata A. Braun.; Marsilea tenuifolia Kunze. WATER-CLOVER. Native perennial. Common in ephemerally or perennially wet clayey soils along margins of creeks, rivers, stock tanks and other impoundments.
Specimens: Material at TEX-LL was on loan in Mar 1996 and was not examined. However, Johnson (1986) cited three specimens: along Onion Creek, 8.5 mi S of Colorado River in Austin, D. S. Correll & H. B. Correll 29940 (TEX-LL, MO, UC); Austin, banks of the Colorado River, Hall 860 (BM, F, G, GH, K, MO, NY, US); Manchaca, E. J. Palmer 12148 (GH, MO, US). Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920; Lynch, 1974. References: Correll, 1956; Johnson, 1986; Johnson, 1993.
AZOLLACEAE AZOLLA FAMILY
Azolla caroliniana Willd. MOSQUITO-FERN. Native perennial. Rare, presently known only from the surface of quiet water near the shoreline of Lake Walter E. Long; these plants may represent a recent introduction to the Travis County flora. Its occurrence on shallow backwaters of other reservoirs should be expected.
Specimens: Floating on shallow still water among tule stems, etc., S shoreline of Lake Walter E. Long, 500-1000 ft. W of boat ramp, 25 Dec 1984, W. R. Carr et al. 6188 (BRIT/SMU, SEU). Previous Travis County floras: none. References: Correll, 1956; Lumpkin, 1993.
DIVISION 2. SPERMATOPHYTA
CLASS 1. GYMNOSPERMAE
CUPRESSACEAE CYPRESS FAMILY
Juniperus ashei Buchh. Sabina sabinoides (H.B.K.) Nees. ASHE JUNIPER, CEDAR. Native tree or large shrub. Abundant, perhaps the most characteristic woody plant species of limestone uplands in the western half of the county.
Specimens: Numerous sheets at TEX-LL. Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920; Lynch, 1974. References: Correll, 1966; Watson & Eckenwalder, 1993.
Juniperus virginiana L. Sabina virginiana (L.) Ant. EASTERN RED CEDAR. Native tree. Common, replacing Juniperus ashei to some extent in various soils in the eastern half of the county, but occurring with it at Walnut Creek Park (P. Turner, 1996) and in some mesic limestone canyons (Bro. D. Lynch, pers. comm.).
Specimens: Numerous sheets at TEX-LL. Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920; Lynch, 1974. References: Correll, 1966; Watson & Eckenwalder, 1993.
EPHEDRACEAE JOINTFIR FAMILY
Ephedra antisyphilitica C. A. Mey. JOINTFIR. Native shrub. Rare on dry exposed limestone ledges and bluffs; more common to the south and west of Travis County. The population near Tom Miller Dam, represented by many of our early collections, is still extant, as is a cluster on the Rodgers Tract on the Balcones Canyonlands NWR (Sexton, 1996).
Specimens: Bluffs of Bee Creek, 2 Oct 1900, Long & Ferguson s.n. (TEX-LL); canyon below dam on Colorado, 13 Apr 1901, Long & Ferguson s.n. (TEX-LL); near dam, Austin, 22 Feb 1908, H. H. York s.n. (TEX-LL); bluff, Barton Creek, 30 Nov 1913, M. S. Young s.n. (TEX-LL); Austin, 1 Feb 1934, E. Whitehouse s.n. (TEX-LL); Austin, 5 Apr 1954, B. C. Tharp s.n. (TEX-LL); W bank of Colorado River just S of low water bridge (Red Bud Trail), 13 Nov 1960, J. D. Graham GA-10 (TEX-LL); limestone bluffs along Colorado River, one plant under the overhang immediately above the Town Lake [sic; actually Lake Austin] Dam at the Nature trail on Red Bud Lane, 10 Nov 1965, J. A. Mears 1033 (TEX-LL); bluffs along Pedernales River at rest area at St. Rt. 71 bridge, 2 May 1991, W. R. Carr 11128 (TEX-LL). Correll (1966) cited a specimen collected by Elihu Hall at Mt. Bonnell on 27 May 1872; the disposition of this specimen is unknown. Previous Travis County floras: Young, 1920 (as Ephedra nevadensis Wats., misapplied); Lynch, 1974. References: Correll, 1966; Stevenson, 1993.
TAXODIACEAE BALDCYPRESS FAMILY
Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich. BALDCYPRESS. Native tree. Rare to locally frequent in gallery woodlands along major perennial creeks and along shorelines of impoundments of the Colorado River.