15 September 2023.
Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Locality: Lower Yellow River.
Coordinates: 30.5817, -86.9177
(Map it)
Elevation: 1m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Elevation: 3 feet. Slope: 0 percent. Aspect: North.
Number of plants sampled: 2
Associated species: Chamaecyparis thyoides; Morella cerifera; Magnolia virginiana; Taxodium distichum; Nyssa biflora; Cephalanthus occidentalis; Bignonia capreolata; Alnus serrulata; Quercus laurifolia; Pinus glabra; Ilex opaca; Itea virginica; Gelsemium rankinii; Acer rubrum; Ilex vomitoria; Vaccinium elliottii; Cyrilla racemiflora; Clethra alnifolia; Crinum americanum; Amorpha fruticosa.
Comment: Dense, evergreen, multi-trunked shrub to tree; occasionally single trunked, 4-20 feet tall. Bark [Ilex] cassine-like; very attractive patchy pale gray, white, brown, often with reddish or orange lichens; smooth, not warty like [Ilex] myrtifolia. Leaves lustrous, alternate, simple, oblong lanceolate, 1 1/2 - 2 inches long with entire margins. Fruit are red berries, but seem to mature later than I. myrtifolia. Flowers, greenish-white, inconspicuous, dioecious. Very interesting taxon that warrants more research attention – both in the field and in the lab. Field work to further develop an understanding of the range, and lab work to help determine and define what we are seeing. Is this a new species or simply a unique local morph? Seed collected off 2 extremely showy plants – prototypical of the PodoHaw or PodoHoon. Seems to be a range restricted local morph. Has only been found on the Lower Yellow River and Weaver River in Santa Rosa County. Continued exploration for new populations is on-going. Collected as Ilex "Podocarpus Leaf."
Collector(s):