06 December 2022.
Scotland County, North Carolina, United States
Locality: Plants growing around a wetland on both sides of Scotland Lake Road, approximately 1.1 kilometers southwest of the junction with Hoffman Road (Scotland Co. Road 1328) in the Sandhills Game Lands. This plant is a common component of the moist to wet areas of the wetland habitats in this area.
Coordinates: 34.9841, -79.5420
(Map it)
Elevation: 118m.
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants are growing in part-shade to sun in a wet to inundated habitat that contains standing water and/or significant moisture year-round.
Soils: The underlying geology of this area is of Tertiary origin and characterized as Pinehurst Formation. It is comprised of medium- to coarse-grained sand as well as cross-bedding and rhythmic bands of clayey sand that are unconsolidated.
Source: USGS North Carolina Geologic Map Data (https://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/sgmc-unit.php?unit=NCTp%3B11)
The primary soil type in the collection area is classified as Johnston Series soils (0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded). The Johnston series consists of very deep, very poorly drained soils that are occasionally to frequently flooded for short to extended periods. Permeability is moderate to rapid. These nearly level soils are alluvial in origin and typical of floodplains and swamp. Slopes range from 0 to 2 percent. Johnston Series soils are comprised of mucky loam that is friable with siliceous elements in the upper 0-75 cm. Lower strata range in percentages of mucky loam and loamy fine sand.
Source: NRCS Web Soil Survey (https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx)
Number of plants sampled: 10
Associated species: Smilax walteri, Oxydendrum arboreum, Cyrilla racemiflora, Arundinaria gigantea, Nyssa biflora, Sphagnum sp., Pinus palustris, Xyris sp., Ilex glabra, Pinus serotina, Spiranthes cernua, Magnolia virginiana, Lyonia lucida, Osmunda cinnamomeum, Woodwardia areolata, Hexastylis sp., Sarracenia purpurea var. venosa, Lyonia mariana, Ctenium aromaticum, Liatris spicata var. resinosa, Platanthera ciliaris, Viburnum nudum, Acer rubrum, Andropogon virginicus, Morella caroliniensis, Eubotrys racemosa, Clethra alnifolia, Rhododendron viscosum, Morella cerifera, Osmunda regalis, Gentiana saponaria, Aronia arbutifolia, Ilex coriacea, Toxicodendron vernix, Zenobia pulverulenta, Smilax laurifolia, Saccharum giganteum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Eupatorium resinosum, Magnolia grandiflora, Persea borbonia, Symphyotrichum sp., Pteridium aquilinum, Symphyotrichum paludosus, Sarracenia rubra, Vaccinium formosum, Rhexia alifanus, Sorghastrum nutans, Aletris farinosa, Lilium sp., Zigadenus glaberrimus
Comment: This species is a deciduous multi-stemmed shrub with an overall broad spreading oval-shaped habit. Individual shrubs range from 2-3.5 meters tall x 3-5 meters wide. Fruit are cone-like structures about 1.5-2 cm long, and their scales become dark brown and woody at maturity. Male catkins are already formed and hanging from branches as current season fruit mature.
Collector(s):