10 December 2022.
Henry County, Alabama, United States
Locality: Plants growing on the west side of George H. Grimsley Highway (Alabama State Hwy. 95) on the bluffs above the south side of Abbie Creek. Common on this site, but otherwise infrequent. This species is near the southernmost end of its natural range.
Coordinates: 31.4725, -85.1630
(Map it)
Elevation: 67m.
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants are growing in part-shade to shade of a mixed evergreen and deciduous woodland on the dry well-drained bluffs 4-5 meters above Abbie Creek.
Soils: The underlying geology of this area is of Holocene origin and characterized as Alluvial, coastal and low terrace deposits. Varicolored fine to coarse quartz sand containing clay lenses and gravel in places.
Source: USGS Alabama Geologic Map Data (https://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/sgmc-unit.php?unit=ALHalt%3B0)
The primary soil types in the collection area are classified as Bonneau Loamy Fine Sand soil (0 to 2 percent slopes). The Bonneau Series consists of very deep, well drained, moderately permeable soils on the middle and upper coastal plain. They were formed by marine and fluviomarine deposits. Slopes range from 0 to 12 percent. Soils are comprised of very friable loamy sand that is strongly acid in the upper 0.7 meters. The lower strata to 2 meters are comprised of sandy clay loam that is friable, sometimes with oxidized iron, and strongly acid.
Source: NRCS Web Soil Survey (https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/WebSoilSurvey.aspx)
Number of plants sampled: 67
Associated species: Kalmia latifolia, Lyonia lucida, Ilex opaca, Quercus phellos, Vaccinium arboreum, Alnus serrulata, Oxydendrum arboreum, Cartrema americana, Hydrangea quercifolia, Nyssa sylvatica, Pinus taeda, Fagus grandifolia, Symplocos tinctoria, Smilax sp., Chionanthus virginicus, Liquidambar styraciflua, Juniperus virginiana, Acer floridanum, Morella cerifera, Quercus alba, Cyrilla racemiflora, Magnolia grandiflora, Ostrya virginiana, Mitchella repens, Vaccinium elliottii, Ditrysinia fruticosa, Hexastylis arifolia, Rhododendron alabamense, Viburnum rufidulum, Benthamidia florida, Sideroxylon lycioides, Illicium floridanum, Clematis sp., Polystichum acrostichoides, Leucothoe axillaris, Solidago sp., Solidago caesia, Chasmanthium sessiliflorum
Comment: This species is a multi-stemmed, rhizomatous, broadleaved evergreen shrub with an irregularly rounded to upright irregular open habit. At maturity this shrub is approximately 2-4 meters tall x 2-3 meters wide. Leaves persistent, thick and coriaceous, medium green above, and often with scattered ferruginous glandular scales beneath. Leaves are oval to sometimes ovate and approximately 4.5-8 cm long × 1-5 cm wide, usually with an acute or acuminate tip. Capsules borne in clusters on erect pedicels, approximately 10-20 mm long × 3-5 mm wide, with ferruginous, peltate scales. Notes: According to Ron Miller, this population of Rhododendron minus var. minus is quite unique with its pale blush pink color. Most populations of this species are strong lavender pink. Ron notes that the population is very uniform in this characteristic.
Collector(s):