| Spiny Hackberry is a medium-sized shrub growing from 4 to 15 feet. It can be found growing in a variety of soils of the Edwards Plateau. It has smooth gray branches that are strongly zig-zagged and armed with various sizes of thorns. The leaves are 1/2 to 2 1/4 inches long and 1/2 to 1 inch wide. The greenish-white flowers bloom in the spring. The small, round fruits are yellow to orange in color and are considered an important water source for birds and small mammals. The fruit is eaten by doves, quail, wrens, cardinals, coyotes, raccoons and rabbits. The foliage is browsed by white-tailed deer and livestock. Spiny Hackberry is also used by butterfly larvae and bees make honey from the pollen. |
