13 November 2023.
Scotland County, North Carolina, United States
Locality: Sandhills Game Land: wetland associated with the West Prong of Juniper Creek on the north side of Whisky Still Road approximately 0.63 kilometers northeast of Hoffman Road, Scotland County Road 1328.
Coordinates: 34.9568, -79.5115
(Map it)
Elevation: 103m.
Georeference protocol: Lat/lon determined by GPS
Habitat: Wild Habitat
Environment description: Plants are growing in part-shade to sun in an acidic wetland habitat rich in sphagnum and other wetland species. The habitat is moist to wet year-round and periodically has surface runoff occurring; even so, this habitat can become quite dry during seasonal periods without rainfall. Slope: N/A. Aspect: N/A. The underlying geology of this area is of Tertiary origin and characterized as Pinehurst Formation. It is comprised of medium- to coarse-grained sand as well as cross-bedding and rhythmic bands of clayey sand that are unconsolidated. (Source: USGS North Carolina Geologic Map Data.) The primary soil type in the collection area is classified as Johnston Series soils, 0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded. The Johnson Series consists of very deep, very poorly drained coarse-loamy, siliceous, active, acid, thermic Cumulic Humaquepts. The upper 0-75 cm is black, mucky loam that is friable and very strongly acid. The lower strata to 1.75 m is dark gray, loamy fine sand, single grained, loose and very strongly acid. (Source: NRCS Web Soil Survey.)
Number of plants sampled: 7
Associated species: Liriodendron sp.; Amelanchier sp.; Ilex coriacea; Rhus glabra; Pinus palustris; Osmundastrum cinnamomeum; Persea palustris; Rubus sp.; Ilex glabra; Vaccinium corymbosum; Aronia arbutifolia; Morella cerifera; Rhododendron viscosum; Magnolia virginiana; Symplocos tinctoria; Viburnum nudum; Prunus sp.; Solidago sp.; Nyssa biflora; Lyonia lucida; Clethra alnifolia; Arundinaria tecta; Oxydendrum arboreum.
Comment: This species is a monocotyledonous woody vine armed with abundant to occasional, stout prickles; plants are typically multi-stemmed and several meters long. It climbs over and through other overstory vegetation forming dense tangled thickets. Leaves are evergreen, rounded, and leathery; they are 3-veined from base and 7–13 cm long x 1.5–6 cm wide. Short, twisted petioles hold the leaves erect from the stems. The fruit are black berries, borne in axillary umbels and are ovoid-shaped, 5–8 mm diameter and shiny glaucous. The fruits ripen the second season after fruit-set and often persist into or through their second winter. Plants are common in wetland habitats throughout this area.
Collector(s):