10 June 2023.
Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Locality: Blackwater State Forest: Wolfe Creek.
Coordinates: 30.8068, -86.9582
(Map it)
Elevation: 49m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Beautiful xeric pine-oak upland community. Transitions to mesic slopes and then to seepage bottom, stringer wetland community adjacent to the Wolfe Creek. Area is on a regular 2-4[-year] burn cycle. Slope: 15%. Aspect: Northwest. Elevation recorded as 160 feet.
Number of plants sampled: 10
Associated species: Kalmia hirsuta; Ilex glabra; Lyonia ligustrina; Cliftonia monophylla; Cyrilla racemiflora; Morella inodora; Morella cerifera; Clethra alnifolia; Rhododendron viscosum Aemulans Group [listed as R. aemulans]; Sarracenia leucophylla; Ctenium aromaticum; Aristida stricta; Peltandra sagittifolia; Polygala lutea; Platanthera ciliaris; Platanthera conspicua; Zigadenus glaberrimus; Lycopodiella alopecuroides.
Comment: Woolly huckleberry is a small, deciduous shrub, 1-3 feet tall, often forming small to extensive colonies. All parts hirsute. Branches somewhat spreading; twigs of current season pale green, often with fine glandular reddish hairs. Leaves 1-2 inches long, pale to medium green. Wonderful red to burgundy wine-red fall color. Inflorescence spreading, bracteate; hairs often silvery-silky, reddish; bracts persistent, leaflike. Flowers white or pink; sepals hairy. Fruit juicy, sweet, glossy black berry. Scattered, common. Fruit collected off of 10 plants.