13 November 2023.
Scotland County, North Carolina, United States
Locality: Sandhills Game Land: wetlands and moist depressions along Hoffman Road, Scotland County Road 1328,
Coordinates: 34.9551, -79.5177
(Map it)
Elevation: 112m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants are growing in sun in an acidic wetland habitat rich in sphagnum and other wetland species. The habitat is moist to wet year-round and periodically has surface runoff occurring; even so, this habitat can become quite dry during seasonal periods without rainfall. Slope: 2 to 3 percent. Aspect: Northeast. 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.) The primary soil type in the collection area is classified as Pelion Loamy Sand (2 to 6 percent slopes). The Pelion Loamy Sand series consists of very deep, moderately well-drained marine deposits, fluviomarine deposits, and sand sheets. Permeability is moderately slow or slow. Surface layers 0-25 cm deep are comprised of loamy sand with a weak fine granular structure and are very friable. Deeper horizons are comprised of sandy loam, sandy clay loam, or clay loam in the upper part and includes sandy clay or clay in the deepest part. Soils are extremely acid to strongly acid. (Source: NRCS Web Soil Survey.)
Number of plants sampled: 15
Associated species: Zenobia pulverulenta; Ilex glabra; Rhexia sp.; Acer rubrum; Aronia arbutifolia; Persea palustris; Pteridium aquilinum; Magnolia virginiana; Smilax laurifolia; Rhus copallinum; Clethra alnifolia; Cyrilla racemiflora; Morella cerifera; Rubus sp.; Vaccinium corymbosum; Lyonia mariana; Lyonia ligustrina; Liquidambar styraciflua; Nyssa sylvatica; Osmundastrum cinnamomeum; Morella caroliniensis; Pinus palustris; Sphagnum sp.; Liriodendron sp.; Solidago sp.; Ageratina altissima; Aristida stricta; Toxicodendron vernix; Symphyotrichum sp.; Viburnum nudum; Andropogon glomeratus.
Comment: The plants at this site are highly rhizomatous, spreading, multi-stemmed, deciduous low-growing shrubs, forming upright, sparsely branched stems. At this site, plants are approximately 25-40 cm tall with colonies up to 1 m wide. Leaves are deciduous, alternate, and simple ranging from ovate to obovate, 3-8 cm long x 2-3.5 cm wide. The leaf margins are entire or, sometimes, minutely serrulate; the upper leaf surface of the leaves is glabrous or densely hairy, while the underside of the leaf surface ranges from glabrous to sparsely scattered hairy. Most plants are in peak scarlet red fall color. Fruits are borne in clusters on erect pedicels, ~2.5 cm long and with eglandular hairs on the capsules (occasionally nearly glabrous by the end of the season as well). These plants are probably short due to prescribed fires; however, the site shows no signs of recent burning. This plant is relatively common in the moist swale leading down to more wet habitat in this area.
Collector(s):