Chittamwood, Bumelia
Bumelia lanuginosa
Sapotaceae
Description
Chittamwood is a native, semi-evergreen, medium-sized tree with oblong, dark green leaves that resemble those of a live oak tree. Its bark is gray to brown in color and the twigs have sharp spines at the ends. Four varieties of B. lanuginosa occur in Texas including gum bumelia (var. albicans), spiny bumelia (var. rigida), Brazos bumelia (var. texana and common bumelia (var. oblongifolia).
From August to November it produces 2-10 greenish white flowers and the black, oblong berries are produced from April to June.
Chittamwood's fruit is consumed by various species of birds and by some small mammals. The leaves are browsed by white-tailed deer and by cattle.
Habitat
Chittamwood is found in various soil types but especially on bluffs of rivers or streams.
Images
Plant Characteristics
Seed Type: Fruit/Berry
Duration: Perennial
Stem Texture: Prickly, Spiny, or Thorny
Growth Habit: Shrub (Woody), Tree
Leaf Shape
: Simple with Pinnate or Parallel Venation
Season: Warm
Distribution
: 01 - Pineywoods, 02 - Gulf Prairies and Marshes, 03 - Post Oak Savannah, 04 - Blackland Prairies, 05 - Cross Timbers and Prairies, 06 - South Texas Plains, 07 - Edwards Plateau, 08 - Rolling Plains
Distributions
Distribution refers to the ecological region in Texas that a plant has been found. You can also view a clickable map.
Collection: Brush and Weeds
