28 July 2022.
Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Locality: Growing along the Yellow River and reached by boat.
Coordinates: 30.5794, -86.9169
(Map it)
Elevation: 1m.
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants are typically found growing in shade to full sun in permanently saturated to submersed conditions along the edge of the Yellow River, growing in association with a wide array of deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs and perennial plant species. Most of the plants along the river are adapted to acidic conditions and while the aquatic habitats are generally fresh water, there is occasionally tidal or hurricane-caused saltwater intrusions. The underlying geology of this area is classified as Alluvium, of Pleistocene/Holocene origin and consists of undifferentiated Quaternary sediments of varying thickness including siliciclastics, organics and freshwater carbonates. The siliciclastics are light gray, tan, brown to black, unconsolidated to poorly consolidated, clean to clayey, silty, unfossiliferous, variably organic-bearing sands to blue green to olive green, poorly to moderately consolidated, sandy, silty clays. Organics occur as plant debris, roots, disseminated organic matrix and beds of peat. Freshwater carbonates, often referred to as marls in the literature, are scattered.
Number of plants sampled: 31
Associated species: Quercus hemisphaerica, Acer rubrum, Acer trilobum, Taxodium distichum, Alnus serrulata, Nyssa biflora, Hypericum fasciculatum, Cyrilla racemiflora, Nyssa aquatica, Liquidambar styraciflua, Ilex cassine, Itea virginica, Magnolia virginiana, Chamaecyparis thyoides, Cornus foemina, Eubotrys racemosa, Clethra alnifolia, Crinum americanum, Ilex opaca, Ilex vomitoria, Ilex decidua, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Fraxinus caroliniana, Nuphar advena, Eriocaulon decangulare, Bignonia capreolata, Carpinus caroliniana, Ilex verticillata, Vaccinium elliottii, Toxicodendron radicans, Salix caroliniana, Amorpha fruticosa, Osmunda regalis, Vaccinium ashei, Viburnum scabrellum, Rhododendron [unnamed tetraploid form]
Comment: Plants are single and multi-stemmed deciduous trees with a spreading layered habit. Along the Yellow River, this species is forced to grow horizontally to compete for light in the lower portions of the canopy. Leaves are simple, alternate and 3-6 cm long x 1.5-2.5 cm wide. Foliage is a dull green color to occasionally grayish green. Fruits are borne singly in axils of the leaves and have a dry dehiscent papery covering that reveals a dark brown, glossy round seed, ~7-10 mm in diameter.
Collector(s):