26 December 2023.
Gulf County, Florida, United States
Locality: Forest Hill Cemetery, east fence line, 0.4 mi north of Hwy 98, off Twine Rd.
Coordinates: 29.7803, -85.2716
(Map it)
Elevation: 7m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Environment description: Growing on the edge of a wet pine savanna/flatwood. Slope: flat. Aspect: Southeast. Elevation: 23 feet.
Number of plants sampled: 15
Associated species: Lyonia lucida; Lyonia ferruginea; Serenoa repens; Ilex coriacea; Ilex vomitoria; Pinus palustris; Quercus geminata; Persea borbonia; Smilax auriculata; Rubus sp.; Aristida stricta.
Comment: A small to medium-sized evergreen or semi-evergreen shrub to small tree, often bushy, running, multi-trunked, 3 to 15 feet tall. These forms seem to be restricted to the northern Panhandle of Florida (GA, SC), while Cyrilla arida is a narrow endemic of the highly xeric Central Florida Ridges. While typical Cyrilla racemiflora (adapted to wet, hydric conditions) is always nearby, this form seems to occupy a slightly different niche, growing in a higher, drier position. This collection, while larger than the Walton Co, FL collection of C. parvifolia, is still signicantly different than typical C. racemiflora. Smaller, narrower leaves, 1 1/2” to 4” long 1/2” wide, much longer than wide, widest about 1/4 of the way from tip, branches upright; racemes 3 to 4”. The translation of these traits to the garden environment could produce a very desirable plant with tremendous landscape appeal. Common. Seed collected from approximately 15 plants.
Collector(s):