15 December 2022.
Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Locality: Yellow River: this plant is growing on the edge of the Yellow River and accessed by boat. This collection located approximately 0.4 kilometers north of the Yellow River Boat Ramp on the east side of Florida State Hwy 87.
Coordinates: 30.5732, -86.9237
(Map it)
Elevation: 1m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: This plant was found growing in full sun in permanently saturated to submersed conditions along the edge of the Yellow River, growing in an open river edge with no overstory. Like most of the plants along the river, this collection is adapted to acidic conditions and while the aquatic habitats are generally fresh water, there can occasionally be 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. (Source: USGS Florida Geologic Map Data). The surface soil profile of this area is primarily Bibb-Kinston Series Association. Bibb Series soils are coarse-loamy, sandy, acid soils that are poorly drained. They are soils of flood plains and streams subject to frequent flooding. These are found in association with Kinston Series soils that are fine-loamy, sandy, acid soils of flood plains and stream subject to frequent flooding. The Bibb-Kinston association ranges from 1-1.5 meters thick and is strongly acid. (Source: Soil Survey of Santa Rosa County and NRCS Web Soil Survey).
Number of plants sampled: 1
Associated species: Chamaecyparis thyoides; Morella cerifera; Ilex myrtifolia; Itea virginica; Magnolia virginiana; Taxodium distichum; Nyssa biflora; Cephalanthus occidentalis; Bignonia capreolata; Alnus serrulata; Quercus laurifolia; Pinus glabra; Ilex opaca; Ilex verticillata; Nyssa aquatica; Gelsemium rankinii; Acer rubrum; Eubotrys racemosus; Liquidambar styraciflua; Ilex vomitoria; Clematis sp.; Vaccinium elliottii; Rhododendron austrinum (“Yellow River Pink Austrinum”); Hypericum fasciculatum; Cyrilla racemiflora; Cornus foemina [listed as Swida foemina]; Clethra alnifolia; Crinum americanum; Ilex decidua; Fraxinus caroliniana; Nuphar advena; Eriocaulon decangulare; Carpinus caroliniana; Toxicodendron radicans; Salix caroliniana; Amorpha fruticosa; Osmunda regalis; Vaccinium sp.; Viburnum dentatum var. scabrellum [listed as V. scabrellum].
Comment: This plant is a multi-stemmed, broadleaved evergreen large shrub/small tree, It has a loose and open branching character with an upright-spreading form. This plant is about 4.5 meters tall x 5 meters wide. The trunks and older stems are silver gray and smooth. Leaves are evergreen, simple, and alternate. They are intermediate in shape between Ilex myrtifolia and Ilex opaca; leaves are lanceolate to oblanceolate with spine-tipped margins on the upper 1/2 or more of the leaves. Leaf size is approximately 3-6.5 cm long x 2-3 cm wide. Fruits are bright red (4-9 mm diameter) and borne on a pedicel (6-9 mm long). Note: This plant stood out immediately as a possible hybrid. Its habit, general texture and fruit color were very typical of Ilex myrtifolia; however, the foliage was quite unique, being larger and wider with spines on the upper half of the leaves. Seed collected from one plant. The species is common along the Yellow River; however, this is the only putative hybrid seen on the river during this trip.
Collector(s):