13 November 2023.
Scotland County, North Carolina, United States
Locality: Wetlands associated with Bones Fork and accessed from Nursery Lane onto unnamed road. From Derby Road (Scotland Co Road 1003), turn west onto Nursery Lane and go 3.11 kilometers to unnamed road and turn right. Travel north along Bones Fork on foot for 0.11 kilometers to the collecting site.
Coordinates: 35.0575, -79.6187
(Map it)
Elevation: 108m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Environment description: Plants growing in shade to part-shade of a moist to wet woodland habitat that is mostly evergreen and deciduous acidic habitat. Slope: N/A. Aspect: N/A. The underlying geology of this area is of Cretaceous origin and characterized as Middendorf Formation. It is composed of sand, sandstone, and mudstone, gray to pale gray with an orange cast, mottled; clay balls and iron-cemented concretions common, beds laterally discontinuous, cross-bedding common. (Source: USGS North Carolina Geologic Map Data.) The primary soil type in the collection area is classified as Ailey Series loamy sand, 8 to 15 percent slopes. The Ailey Series consists of moderately deep or deep to fragic soil properties and deep or very deep to densic materials. This soil is well drained or somewhat excessively drained. The upper layer (0-12.5 cm) of this soil is dark grayish brown loamy sand that is frequently dry. It has a weak fine granular structure, is very friable, non-sticky, non-plastic, and is strongly acid. The lower strata soils (12.5-90 cm) are yellowish brown loamy sand, with weak fine granular structure, very friable, non-sticky, non-plastic, and moderately acid. Deeper depths (below 90 cm) are characterized by slightly greater clay content that is slightly more plastic and strongly acid. (Source: NRCS Web Soil Survey.)
Number of plants sampled: 15
Associated species: Ilex glabra; Pinus palustris; Andropogon virginicus; Arundinaria tecta; Magnolia virginiana; Lyonia lucida; Osmundastrum cinnamomeum; Smilax laurifolia; Smilax sp.; Viburnum nudum; Ilex laevigata; Carex sp.; Woodwardia areolata; Gentiana catesbaei; Acer rubrum; Clethra alnifolia; Alnus serrulata; Vaccinium sp.; Liriodendron sp.; Morella caroliniensis; Conoclinium coelestinum; Saccharum giganteum; Sphagnum sp.; Toxicodendron vernix; Fothergilla gardenii.
Comment: This species is a multi-stemmed, deciduous, highly rhizomatous low growing shrub, forming large masses of sparsely branched ascending shoots. Mature fruiting plants are approximately 0.5-1.5 m tall x 1-2 m wide. Leaves are simple, alternate, and ovate with smooth margins and a rounded to acute tip; leaves are approximately 2-8 cm long x 0.5-2.5 cm wide. Foliage is peak fall color ranging from bright yellow to red and occasionally tints of purple; the undersides of the leaves are prominently glaucous white. Fruits are 5-valved capsules borne terminally and sub-terminally in clusters; capsules are round, 3.2-5 mm long x 4.8-6.5 mm wide. Plants are frequent along the wetland edge in this area.
Collector(s):