19 May 2023.
Santa Rosa County, Florida, United States
Locality: Blackwater State Forest: Wolfe Creek.
Coordinates: 30.8065, -86.9584
(Map it)
Elevation: 49m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Beautiful xeric pine-oak upland community. Transitions to mesic slopes and then to seepage bottom, stringer wetland community adjacent to the Wolfe Creek. Slope: 20%. Aspect: Northwest. Elevation recorded as 162 feet.
Number of plants sampled: 12
Associated species: Diospyros virginiana; Ilex opaca; Ilex vomitoria; Pinus clausa; Pinus palustris; Quercus falcata; Quercus geminata; Quercus laevis; Quercus margarettiae; Quercus incana; Quercus nigra; Vaccinium darrowii; Vaccineum stamineum; Gaylusaccia dumosa; Gaylussacia tomentosa/nana; Ceanothus americanus.
Comment: Shrub, mostly prostrate with several main branches near base. Many ascending yellowish-green stems, 1-2 feet tall with a 1-2+ foot spread. Leaves less than 1/2 inch long, deciduous, alternate, usually fascicled at node. Flowers small, white, mostly terminal, in corymbose cluster, late winter to early spring. Fruits are explosively dehiscent. Young twigs are noticeably yellow and stand out in winter. Scattered distribution, but fairly common here. Collected from 12 plants. Great landscape potential for dry soils and high filtered shade or half-day sun. Perfect "filler" plant, and fantastic for the pollinator garden!