10 October 2023.
Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Locality: Blackwater State Forest, a few hundred yards from Juniper Creek.
Coordinates: 30.8011, -86.8911
(Map it)
Elevation: 15m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Elevation: 52 feet. Slope: 0%. Aspect: Southeast.
Number of plants sampled: 15
Associated species: Cyrilla racemiflora; Cliftonia monophylla; Ilex glara; Lyonia lucida; Serenoa repens; Pinus palustris; Magnolia virginiana; Chamaecyparis thyoides; Morella cerifera; Quercus laurifolia; Quercus nigra.
Comment: Extensive colony of K. hirsuta. Taxon is infrequent, but where found, quite often forms extensive populations. Seed collected from 15 plants. Hairy wicky [local name for Kalmia hirsuta] is an evergreen subshrub, usually 6-24 inches in height. Often decumbent, with a somewhat scraggly, wiry growth habit. Twigs have long, spreading hairs. Leaves, alternate, sessile, elliptic to ovate, with revolute margins; densely to sparsely pubescent. Flowers on new growth, axillary, singular or up to 2-3 per leaf axil; pale pink, dark pink, or lavender. Petals often marked with red dots. Prefers full sun to partial sun and a moist, acidic soil. Found in pine flatwoods, bogs, white cedar wetlands, sandhill communities. Within these communities, hairy wicky is often found situated on small rises or seepage areas to take advantage of the necessary adaptive edaphic and microtopographic variation. Seems to appreciate, and even require a level of disturbance, and responds dramatically. Spreads by underground runners. By shearing, one might be able to develop a very fine, interesting “groundcover” for the garden. Further testing is needed to determine tolerance and response to colder climates.
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