01 November 2022.
Texas, United States
Locality: Plants growing in moist sites on the north and south side of Clarktown Road approximately 0.5 kilometers west of Texas State Hwy 87 in Sabine National Forest. Plant is relatively common in the moist-wet and seasonally wet locations; absent elsewhere.
Coordinates: 31.1729, -93.7413
(Map it)
Elevation: 92m.
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants are growing in part-shade to part-sun in moist-wet areas with low competition. The area generally retains moisture throughout the growing season.
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 Mattex-Iulus complex soils. The Mattex series consists of very deep, somewhat poorly drained, slowly permeable, acidic loamy soils. They formed in loamy and clayey alluvium. These are nearly level soils on flood plains. Slopes range from 0 to 1 percent. The Iulus series consists of very deep, moderately well drained, moderately permeable, soils on flood plains. These soils formed in recent alluvium derived from coastal plain sediments, often containing fine sandy elements and are extremely acidic. The slope ranges from 0 to 1 percent.
Source: NRCS Web Soil Survey (https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx)
Number of plants sampled: 15
Associated species: Acer rubrum, Rubus sp., Carex sp., Ilex opaca, Halesia diptera, Morella cerifera, Magnolia virginiana, Chionanthus virginicus, Pinus taeda, Liquidambar styraciflua, Persea palustris, Smilax sp., Ilex vomitoria, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus alba, Callicarpa americana, Chasmanthium latifolium, Solidago sp., Lespedeza sp.
Comment: This species is a deciduous, multi-stemmed shrub with a coarse upright spreading to rounded habit depending on light conditions. Plants in this population ranged from 1-3 meters tall x 1-3 meters wide. The lower branches become woody and brown, while new growth is green or red. Leaves are deciduous, opposite and simple, range from 7.5-15 cm long x 3.5-7.0 cm wide, ovate or ovate-oblong in shape with entire margins, and a glossy upper surface. The many-seeded dry fruits are spherical and green turning brown; they are borne terminally in clusters. Leaves were turning from green to pale yellow at collection time.
Collector(s):