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Plant Profile

Ashy Dogweed (Thymophylla tephroleuca)

This is a closeup showing the yellow flowers. Photo Credit: San Antonio Botanical Garden

Global Rank: G2 - Imperiled
Legal Status: Federally Endangered
Family: Asteraceae
State: TX
Nature Serve ID: 155610
Lifeform: Forb/herb
Date Inducted in National Collection: 04/04/1991

Description:

Ashy dogweed is an attractive perennial wildflower. The ashy grayish-green stems and leaves of this plant give it its name. After rains, the beautiful ashy dogweed blooms bright yellow daisy-like flowers against a mound of gray-green foliage from March to May. It grows in a sandy, grassland-shrub habitat in south Texas. At the time when this plant was listed as federally endangered (1984), only one population was known to exist in the wild, but several new populations have been recently discovered. Aggressive exotic grasses, cattle grazing and trampling, and loss of habitat due to urbanization has caused this perennial herb to be listed as an endangered species. (USFWS 1988).

Where is Ashy Dogweed (Thymophylla tephroleuca) located in the wild?

Habitat:

Found on fine, sandy-loam soil in open areas of grassland-shrub communities. Dominant associates include Castela, Cordia, Prosopsis, Microrhamnus, Leucophyllum, Cercidium, and Yucca. (USFWS 1984)

Distribution:

Found in two counties in southern Texas (Zapata and Webb county). This species was also historically known from Starr County, Texas, but hasn't been seen there for over 70 years. (Texas Parks and Wi

States & Provinces:

Ashy Dogweed can be found in Texas

Which CPC Partners conserve Ashy Dogweed (Thymophylla tephroleuca)?

San Antonio Botanical Garden

Conservation Actions

Tina Stanley

08/29/2022

As of August 2022, San Antonio Botanical Garden has collected seed from this species in the wild. San Antonio Botanical Garden also holds this species in living collection and has conducted propagation research.

09/30/2020

Research done at the National Wildflowers Research Center in Austin, Texas discovered that the seed germinated best when heat stratified. (Crank 1992)

09/30/2020

The San Antonio Botanical Garden staff has found that ashy dogweed grows easily from cuttings taken in late spring to early summer

09/30/2020

An additional seed collection is being sent to the National Seed Storage Lab.

09/30/2020

The San Antonio Botanical Gardens maintains plants in test plots and in a cold frame area.

Nature Serve Biotics

05/02/2017

Endemic to extreme south Texas, where fewer than 10 populations are known. Severe habitat alteration may have played a role in this species' rarity - introduced grasses, intensive grazing, brush clearing, and oil and gas development have drastically changed most of the native grassland in this area. Research is planned to determine the effect of common range management practices on this species, which seems to respond positively to certain types of soil disturbance.

Cindy Barrett

01/01/2010

The survival of this species is threatened by overgrazing, potentially further loss of habitat due to roadside blading and brush clearing, as well as through possible collecting and/or vandalism. (USFWS 1984)

Cindy Barrett

01/01/2010

6 populations are known in northern Zapata County and southern Webb Counties, Texas (Texas Parks and Wildlife 2002)

Cindy Barrett

01/01/2010

The San Antonio Botanical Garden staff has found that ashy dogweed grows easily from cuttings taken in late spring to early summer. Research done at the National Wildflowers Research Center in Austin, Texas discovered that the seed germinated best when heat stratified. (Crank 1992)

Cindy Barrett

01/01/2010

The San Antonio Botanical Gardens maintains plants in test plots and in a cold frame area. This institution was also conducting a reintroduction project in conjunction with the Texas Heritage Program. Plants were to be reintroduced into a site recently destroyed by a utility company. Unfortunately, this project was put on hold pending highway improvements. An additional seed collection is being sent to the National Seed Storage Lab.

Cindy Barrett

01/01/2010

Seed viability tests. Additional tests on heat stratification. Seed collection from the different populations for storage at the National Seed Storage Lab.