GARRYACEAE

SILK TASSEL FAMILY

Thomas F. Daniel

Shrub, small tree, dioecious
Leaves simple, opposite, evergreen, petioled; blade ± leathery, flat to concave-convex, margin entire, flat, rolled under, or strongly wavy
Inflorescence catkin-like, pendent; flowers small, in axils of opposite, 4-ranked, basally fused bracts
Staminate flowers (1–)3(4) per bract, pedicelled; perianth parts 4, generally fused at tips; stamens 4, alternate perianth parts, filaments free, anthers 2-chambered
Pistillate flowers (1–)3 per bract; pedicel ± 0 or short; perianth 0 or vestigial with 2 small appendages; ovary inferior, chamber 1, styles 2(3)
Fruit: berry, spheric to ovoid, green, fleshy, becoming dark blue, black, or whitish gray, dry, brittle, not or irregularly dehiscent
Seeds generally 2
Genera in family: 1 genus, 14 species: w US, C.Am, Caribbean; some cultivated
Reference: [Dahling 1978 Contr Gray Herb 209:1–104]

GARRYA

SILK TASSEL BUSH

Etymology: (N. Garry, 1st secretary of Hudson Bay Co., friend of David Douglas, 1782?–1856)
Intergradation among CA species suggests some may be unworthy of that status.

Native

G. veatchii Kellogg

Shrub < 2 m
Leaf 24–90 mm, 8–50 mm wide, 1.3–3.9 X longer than wide, flat to ± concave-convex, lance-ovate to obovate-elliptic; margin flat to slightly rolled under, sometimes slightly wavy; lower surface hairs dense, curly-wavy, interwoven
Inflorescence in fruit 13–18 mm wide
Pistillate flowers 1(–3) per bract
Fruit: hairs dense
Ecology: Chaparral
Elevation: 250–1750 m.
Bioregional distribution: Outer South Coast Ranges, Southwestern California
Distribution outside California: n Baja California
Horticultural information: DRN, SUN: 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21.