# Garrya wrightii

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***Garrya wrightii*** is a species of flowering plant in the family [Garryaceae](/source/Garryaceae) known by the common names **Wright's silktassel**, **quinine-bush**, **coffee berry**, **bearberry**, **feverbush**, and **grayleaf dogwood**.

## Distribution

The plant is native to northern [Mexico](/source/Mexico) and to the [southwestern United States](/source/Southwestern_United_States) in [Arizona](/source/Arizona), [New Mexico](/source/New_Mexico), and [Texas](/source/Texas).[1] It is found growing on rocky slopes and in crevices of cliffs, from 5,000–8,000 feet (1,500–2,400 m) in elevation.[2]

## Description

*Garrya wrightii* is a [shrub](/source/Shrub) slowly growing up to 12–36 feet (3.7–11.0 m) tall. It has branches that are square in cross-section and thick, tough leaves.

The species is [dioecious](/source/Plant_sexuality) with male and female reproductive parts occurring on separate plants. Both flower types are borne in [catkin](/source/Catkin)-like spikes. They are green.[2]

The fruit is a rounded purple [berry](/source/Berry_(botany)) under a centimeter wide containing one or two seeds. The seeds are [dispersed](/source/Seed_dispersal) by birds that eat the berries.[1]

## Ecology

This shrub grows in [chaparral](/source/Chaparral), [pinyon-juniper woodlands](/source/Pinyon-juniper_woodland), and [Madrean pine-oak woodlands](/source/Madrean_pine-oak_woodlands). It is rarely [dominant](/source/Dominance_(ecology)) but it occurs in many types of [plant communities](/source/Plant_community).

It grows alongside many species of [oak](/source/Oak) such as [Emory oak (*Quercus emoryi*)](/source/Quercus_emoryi), [gray oak (*Quercus grisea*)](/source/Quercus_grisea), and [Coahuila scrub oak (*Quercus intricata*)](/source/Quercus_intricata).

Other plants in the habitats may include [birchleaf mountain-mahogany](/source/Cercocarpus_betuloides) (*Cercocarpus betuloides*), [true mountain-mahogany](/source/Cercocarpus_montanus) (*Cercocarpus montanus*), [skunkbush sumac](/source/Rhus_trilobata) (*Rhus trilobata*), [desert ceanothus](/source/Ceanothus_greggii) (*Ceanothus greggii*), [pointleaf manzanita](/source/Arctostaphylos_pungens) (*Arctostaphylos pungens*), [Pringle manzanita](/source/Arctostaphylos_pringlei) (*Arctostaphylos pringlei*), [yellowleaf silktassel](/source/Garrya_flavescens) (*Garrya flavescens*), and [hollyleaf buckthorn](/source/Rhamnus_crocea) (*Rhamnus crocea*).

It is adapted to [wildfire](/source/Wildfire)-prone habitat, resprouting after being top-killed in fires.[1]

## Uses

Small amounts of [rubber](/source/Rubber) can be made from it.[1]

Livestock occasionally eat the plant, goats are especially partial to it. Cattle tend to dislike it because of its bitter taste. Many wild ungulates, such as [mule deer](/source/Mule_deer), [bighorn sheep](/source/Bighorn_sheep), and [elk](/source/Elk) browse it.[1]

### Cultivation

*Garrya wrightii* is cultivated as an [ornamental plant](/source/Ornamental_plant), for planting as a [shrub](/source/Shrub) or small multi-trunked tree in gardens.[2] It is used in [drought tolerant](/source/Xeriscape) and [wildlife gardens](/source/Wildlife_garden), in [natural landscaping](/source/Natural_landscaping) design, for [erosion control](/source/Erosion_control), and for [habitat restoration](/source/Habitat_restoration) projects.[2]

## References

1. Uchytil, Ronald J. 1990. [*Garrya wrightii*.](http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/shrub/garwri/all.html) In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.

1. [Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center: *Garrya wrightii* (Wright's silktassel)](http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=GAWR3)

## External links

- [USDA Plants Profile for *Garrya wrightii*](https://plants.usda.gov/plant-profile/GAWR3)
- [*Garrya wrightii* —CalPhotos Photo Gallery](http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?query_src=photos_index&where-taxon=Garrya+wrightii)
- [NatureServe Explorer: *Garrya wrightii*](https://explorer.natureserve.org/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.137304/Garrya_wrightii)

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Garrya wrightii](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrya_wrightii) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrya_wrightii?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.