Bracted Twistflower Survey

with Jonny Scalise

Bracted Twistflowers are rare annual plants that germinate in wet Fall conditions and bloom the following Spring in late April and May. They have very showy, four-petaled, lavender flowers. These plants grow in west Austin in just a few remaining places, often on steep hillsides where Ashe Juniper trees provide cover from browsing deer. One of these few places is the Barton Creek Greenbelt.

Courtesy Jonathon Scalise

Jonathon Scalise
Biologist, City of Austin.

Courtesy Cy Resident

The pink ribbon in this photo indicates that this plant has been found on a previous survey.

 

Courtesy Germination of seeds of Streptanthus bracteatus A. Gray, Bracted Twistflower (Brassicaceae), a Rare Central Texas Endemic

"Their range is just a handful of counties here in central Texas where development and deer over-population have put them in a dire situation."

 

Courtesy Cy Resident

Spotting this delicate plant takes a keen eye.

Courtesy Cy Resident

This plant has a very limited range and considered endangered.

Courtesy Cy Resident

Here a specimen is shown just emerging after Winter Storm Uri in 2021.

Courtesy Jonathon Scalise
Courtesy Jonathon Scalise
Courtesy Jonathon Scalise
Courtesy Jonathon Scalise