Congdon silktassel has leaf hairs that are distinguishable with a hand lens, and both leaf blades and petioles are about two thirds the size of those on Coast silktassel. Habitat Congdon silktassel is found in several plant communities, principally in drier inner coastal California ranges no more than 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean; the main associations are Coastal chaparral, Mixed evergreen forest (near a chaparral area) and Northern coastal sage scrub. This plant can tolerate moderately heavy clay soils and serpentine areas, but likes soils pH to lie in the range of six to eight. An example of serpentine soils habitat is in The Cedars of Sonoma County, California. This plant is rather resistant to being grazed by deer or rabbits, and is hardy to cold temperatures of about 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Congdon silktassel is moderately drought-tolerant, but is more luxuriant with rainfall of about 22 inches per annum. Differences with other Garrya species Congdon silktassel is usually found at elevations above 200 meters. This species is usually found within the mountains of the inner Pacific Coast range, such as Mount Hamilton ranging north to the inner coast range in Sonoma County, which is where the specimen photographed herein was found. Coast silktassel (Garrya elliptica) is most closely related species. Coast silktassel has similar wavy undulated entire leaf margins with somewhat darker glossier leaves, and the leaf topsides are more waxy and not quite so leathery as Congdon. The whitish hairs on the leaf underside of Coast silktassel are not readily visible with a hand lens as for Congdon silktassel. Coast silktassel is most commonly seen growing as individual plants rather than in groves, and can be found in the Montara Mountain range, San Bruno Mountain and outer coastal ranges in Marin County such as Mount Tamalpais. Both Fremont silktassel (Garrya fremontii) and Ashy silktassel (Garrya flavescens) have similar fruit characteristics, but have a flat leaf margin. Fremont silktassel has yellow-green leaves and fruits that are almost lacking in hairs. Fremont silktassel is found from the Mount Hamilton area and Loma Prieta area ranging north to Marin County (for example, on Mount Tamalpais. Ashy silktassel (Garrya flavescens pallida) has grayish leaves and is reported to occur in the Alameda County hills. See also Joseph Whipple Congdon References Garryales Endemic flora of California Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Natural history