Lets learn another latin word shall we (*I know you thought I have given up– but no– I am determined to learn more myself and  make sure you all become a little more plant-ucated as well).   So next up is Glabra… which means smooth.

As usual, the latin notation has a tendency to describe the feature that is different.  So for example — typically Ilex (holly) has pointy holly-shaped leaves — but Ilex glabra has smooth rounded leaves (kind of like boxwood).

Similarly — my current obsession with Rhus glabra — it is unique (near as I can tell) because it has smooth bark.  I desperately want some of these seed heads and their red leaves in my garden this fall...
image from natural landscape nursery