05 December 2023.
Polk County, Florida, United States
Locality: Lake Wales Ridge State Forest.
Coordinates: 27.6868, -81.4151
(Map it)
Elevation: 28m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Xeric scrub. Slope: flat. Aspect: Northwest. Elevation: 92 feet.
Number of plants sampled: 20
Associated species: Ilex opaca var. arenicola; Ceratiola ericoides; Polygonella myriophylla; Clinopodium ashei (listed as Calamintha ashei); Asclepias curtissii; Lechea cernua; Liatris ohlingerae; Paronychia chartacea; Nolina brittoniana; Opuntia humifusa (listed as Opuntia austrina); Bonamia grandiflora; Quercus spp.; Pinus clausa.
Comment: Scrub bay is an evergreen shrub or small tree up to 20’. Branches appressed-pubescent. Leaves elliptic to lanceeolate-elliptic, alternate, 2-4” × 1”, upper [adaxial surfaces] glossy green, abaxial surfaces with dense, silky, rusty brown, appressed hairs when young, appearing sooty with age. Inflorescences: peduncle mostly shorter than subtending petiole, pubescent; flowers white, spring. Fruit: black marble-sized drupe, glaucous, fall. Approximately 300 plants in about an 11-acre area. Seed collected from 20 plants.
Collector(s):