NAME: Chloroleucon ebano (J. Berlandier) L. Rico Sy = Pithecellobium flexicaule (G. Bentham) J. Coulter

PLANT FAMILY: Fabaceae

COMMON NAME: Texas ebony

APERTURATION: Tetrad (not actually an aperturation type, but a cluster of pollen grains)

ORNAMENTATION: Psilate

POLLINATION SYNDROME: Entomophilous

SIZE:

SHAPE: Spheroidal in equatorial view, individual pollen grain quadrate

FLOWERING DATE: April - July (rarely to November) in Texas

NOTES: Texas ebony flowers are pale pink and are visited by insects and hummingbirds. Texas ebony is restricted in its distribution to southern Texas and south into Mexico. Texas ebony pollen can be confused with Albizia julibrissin (mimosa) and Acacia pollen types. Texas ebony pollen is found in honey and on various other insects. Because of its restricted location, pollen from this plant is an important North American natural marker. It was found attached to corn earworm, black cutworm, and armyworm adults. Texas ebony pollen grains are usually found on the eyes of these insects.