About Ebenopsis ebano (Berland.) Barneby & J.W.Grimes
Ebenopsis ebano, commonly called Texas ebony, is a small evergreen tree. Mature trees reach a height of 7.6–9.1 m (25–30 ft) and have a crown width of 1.8–4.6 m (5.9–15.1 ft). The natural range of E. ebano extends from Laredo and Corpus Christi, Texas, south through the Mexican states of Tamaulipas, Nuevo León, San Luis Potosí, Veracruz, Campeche, and Yucatán. It occurs in four ecoregions: the Tamaulipan matorral, Tamaulipan mezquital, Veracruz dry forests, and Yucatán dry forests. Its habitat ranges from sea level up to 1,000 m (3,300 ft), has an average annual temperature of 20 to 27 °C (68 to 81 °F), and receives a mean annual rainfall of 900 mm (35 in). Ecologically, Ebenopsis ebano acts as a host plant for caterpillars of the coyote cloudywing (Achalarus toxeus) and Sphingicampa blanchardi. Its seedpods host the bean weevils Stator beali and S. limbatus. Even though the native ranges of Texas ebony and S. limbatus overlap, S. limbatus only feeds on Texas ebony in non-native areas where the tree is grown ornamentally. E. ebano is also the preferred host of the epiphyte Bailey's ball moss (Tillandsia baileyi). In cultivation, Texas ebony is used in xeriscaping due to its dense foliage and fragrant flowers, and it is also grown for bonsai.
