01 November 2022.
Texas, United States
Locality: Plants growing in a wetland on the north side of Clarktown Road approximately 1.5 kilometers west of Texas State Hwy 87 in Sabine National Forest. Plant is common in the moist-wet and mesic edges of the wetland habitat where it is best adapted.
Coordinates: 31.1711, -93.7511
(Map it)
Elevation: 71m.
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants are growing in part-shade in a depression wetland of a small upland valley stream area surrounded by upland Pinus palustris and Pinus taeda forests. While the region had a severe drought during 2022, this depression wetland remained mucky wet throughout. Higher light conditions that supported heavy fruit production on the Persea may have been due to nearby harvesting of forest sections adjacent to the wetland.
Soils: The underlying geology of this area is of Oligocene origin and characterized as Catahoula Formation. This formation is extensive and deep in Texas, up to 185 meters thick. In the area of the collection the Catahoula Formation is primarily mudstone and sand. The upper 90-150 meters is mudstone that is tuffaceous, and sandy; also, occasionally, with some bentonitic clay.
Source: USGS Texas Geologic Map Data (https://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/sgmc-unit.php?unit=TXQbs%3B0
The primary soil types in the collection area are classified as Letney soils. These soils consist of deep, somewhat excessively drained, moderately rapidly permeable soils on uplands. They were formed in thick loamy and sandy sediments on the Western Coastal Plain. The Letney soils are on gently sloping uplands with slopes ranging from 1 to 5 percent. They are typically strongly acidic. It should be noted that the upper surface, to an unknown depth has a significant amount of decomposed and undecomposed organic litter, presumably from sphagnum, at least, in part.
Source: NRCS Web Soil Survey (https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx)
Number of plants sampled: 30
Associated species: Ilex vomitoria, Quercus falcata, Callicarpa americana, Magnolia virginiana, Osmunda regalis, Osmundastrum cinnamomeum, Woodwardia areolata, Vaccinium corymbosum, Smilax sp., Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Toxicodendron vernix, Vitis sp., Rhododendron viscosum (low growing rhizomatous form), Carex sp., Eupatorium sp., Pinus taeda, Morella cerifera, Morella caroliniensis, Carya glabra, Lobelia puberula, Ludwigia sp., Ilex opaca, Ilex coriacea, Quercus laurifolia, Symplocos tinctoria, Hamamelis virginiana, Sphagnum sp., Juncus sp.
Comment: This species is a broadleaved evergreen shrub to tree; in this wetland, all plants are growing as multi-stemmed shrubs, 2-3 meters tall, with an upright to spreading habit. No older, more mature trees typical of the species were observed in this site. Branches of the young stems (to 3 years old) are pubescent; the hairs erect and stiff. The leaves are evergreen, alternate, and simple; ovate to elliptic, 8-14 cm long x 2-5 cm wide with an acuminate tip. The upper leaf surface is dark green while the abaxial surface is pale, glaucous, and densely pubescent for most of the growing season with rusty brown erect stiff hairs; near the end of the season the abaxial surface has become nearly glabrescent. Fruit is a drupe to 8 mm diameter; at maturity, the fruit is blue-black and borne on a long peduncle 4-8 cm long and pubescent. Generally, there are 1-4 fruits per cluster.
Collector(s):