Saddlebushes

Description

Mortonia is a small genus of flowering shrubs known as saddlebushes, "sand paper bush" or mortonias. These are rough, hairy shrubs with leathery leaves and panicles of fleshy white to purplish flowers. They bear nutlets containing 1 seed each. They are native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where they are most abundant in dry regions. Mortonia scabrella shows a strong preference for alkaline, limestone soils.