Flora of the Southeastern United States

Asplenium

Petiole darkened toward the base; pinnules toothed, lacerate, pinnatifid, or pinnate; leaves bipinnate to tripinnate, the leaf blades lanceolate-ovate to lanceolate-oblong; ultimate leaf segments sessile or nearly so; [of acidic rocks] ; [XI. Pleurosorus clade; Onopteris subclade]

Petiole darkened toward the base; pinnules toothed, lacerate, pinnatifid, or pinnate; leaves bipinnate to tripinnate, the leaf blades lanceolate-ovate to lanceolate-oblong; ultimate leaf segments sessile or nearly so; [of acidic rocks] ; [XI. Pleurosorus clade; Onopteris subclade]

Sagittaria

Bracts of the inflorescence thick and herbaceous, 5-25 mm long, rounded at the tip; flowers in 2-4 whorls; achenes with facial resin-ducts; [acidic, blackwater habitats of the Coastal Plain]

Bracts of the inflorescence thick and herbaceous, 5-25 mm long, rounded at the tip; flowers in 2-4 whorls; achenes with facial resin-ducts; [acidic, blackwater habitats of the Coastal Plain]

Trillium

Petals white with triangular red blaze (rarely entirely white or pinkish); anther sacs lavender to white, dehiscence extrorse; fruit a red berry; leaves long-acuminate; [of acidic sites in the Mountains, generally strongly associated with either Pinus, Tsuga, Picea, Rhododendron, or other heaths]; [genus Trillidium]

Petals white with triangular red blaze (rarely entirely white or pinkish); anther sacs lavender to white, dehiscence extrorse; fruit a red berry; leaves long-acuminate; [of acidic sites in the Mountains, generally strongly associated with either Pinus, Tsuga, Picea, Rhododendron, or other heaths]; [genus Trillidium]

Trillium

Petals white to deep pink, lacking a red blaze; anther sacs yellow, dehiscence introrse; fruit a white to greenish-white, fleshy, irregularly dehiscent capsule; leaves obtuse to acute (or somewhat acuminate in T. grandiflorum); [of less distinctly acidic sites, collectively widespread in our area].

Petals white to deep pink, lacking a red blaze; anther sacs yellow, dehiscence introrse; fruit a white to greenish-white, fleshy, irregularly dehiscent capsule; leaves obtuse to acute (or somewhat acuminate in T. grandiflorum); [of less distinctly acidic sites, collectively widespread in our area].

Eriocaulon

Bracts dark, gray to blackish, very shiny, the margins all nearly entire, the apex acute; [of moist acidic sites].

Bracts dark, gray to blackish, very shiny, the margins all nearly entire, the apex acute; [of moist acidic sites].

Carex

Basal leaves reduced to bladeless sheaths; basal sheaths strongly purple; [of dry, acidic habitats of the Mountains]

Basal leaves reduced to bladeless sheaths; basal sheaths strongly purple; [of dry, acidic habitats of the Mountains]

Carex

Inflorescence rachis with sharp, scabrous angles; lowermost pistillate spikes overlapping not at all or slightly; [native, in acidic Coastal Plain wetlands]

Inflorescence rachis with sharp, scabrous angles; lowermost pistillate spikes overlapping not at all or slightly; [native, in acidic Coastal Plain wetlands]

Cladium

Plants 0.4-1 m tall, relatively delicate, from creeping rhizomes, forming loosely tufted colonies; leaves 1-3 dm long, 1-3 mm wide, flat to channeled (terete apically), margins only slightly scabrous; inflorescence 0.5-3 dm long, of 2-4 umbelliform cymes, the branches rigidly ascending and bearing simple glomerules of spikelets; achene base squarely truncate to slightly flaring; [of Coastal Plain acidic seepages and tidal freshwater to slightly brackish marshes, Mountain fens or bogs]

Plants 0.4-1 m tall, relatively delicate, from creeping rhizomes, forming loosely tufted colonies; leaves 1-3 dm long, 1-3 mm wide, flat to channeled (terete apically), margins only slightly scabrous; inflorescence 0.5-3 dm long, of 2-4 umbelliform cymes, the branches rigidly ascending and bearing simple glomerules of spikelets; achene base squarely truncate to slightly flaring; [of Coastal Plain acidic seepages and tidal freshwater to slightly brackish marshes, Mountain fens or bogs]

Heuchera

Leaves deeply and sharply lobed, the terminal lobe longer than wide; bracts of the inflorescence linear, rarely toothed; petioles loosely villous; rhizomes < 1 cm in diameter; lower leaf surface glabrous to sparsely pubescent; [primarily of Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, and upper Piedmont, usually in very acidic substrates]

Leaves deeply and sharply lobed, the terminal lobe longer than wide; bracts of the inflorescence linear, rarely toothed; petioles loosely villous; rhizomes < 1 cm in diameter; lower leaf surface glabrous to sparsely pubescent; [primarily of Ridge and Valley, Blue Ridge, and upper Piedmont, usually in very acidic substrates]

Heuchera

Flowers large, with white, exserted petals; [strongly acidic to subacidic substrates, such as quartzitic sandstones, in w. VA and adjacent e. WV and northwards to c. PA]

Flowers large, with white, exserted petals; [strongly acidic to subacidic substrates, such as quartzitic sandstones, in w. VA and adjacent e. WV and northwards to c. PA]

Carya

Lepidote scales silvery-tan or rusty-brown, giving the buds, young twigs, and undersurface of the leaves a dull or slightly shiny tan, dull yellow, or rusty-brown color; fruit 3-5 cm long; [usually of upland and acidic forests and woodlands, collectively widespread in our area].

Lepidote scales silvery-tan or rusty-brown, giving the buds, young twigs, and undersurface of the leaves a dull or slightly shiny tan, dull yellow, or rusty-brown color; fruit 3-5 cm long; [usually of upland and acidic forests and woodlands, collectively widespread in our area].

Carya

Lepidote scales silvery-tan or rusty-brown, giving the buds, young twigs, and undersurface of the leaves a dull or slightly shiny tan, dull yellow, or rusty-brown color; fruit 3-5 cm long; [usually of upland and acidic forests and woodlands, collectively widespread in our area].

Lepidote scales silvery-tan or rusty-brown, giving the buds, young twigs, and undersurface of the leaves a dull or slightly shiny tan, dull yellow, or rusty-brown color; fruit 3-5 cm long; [usually of upland and acidic forests and woodlands, collectively widespread in our area].

Carya

Undersurface of the leaflets with dense, silvery-tan large peltate scales, and fewer and less conspicuous fewer small peltate scales (thus the leaves appearing overall silvery-tan); petiole and rachis hirsute with fasciculate trichomes, and also with concentrations of hairs near the leaflet insertions; [widespread in our area, of upland and acidic forests and woodlands]

Undersurface of the leaflets with dense, silvery-tan large peltate scales, and fewer and less conspicuous fewer small peltate scales (thus the leaves appearing overall silvery-tan); petiole and rachis hirsute with fasciculate trichomes, and also with concentrations of hairs near the leaflet insertions; [widespread in our area, of upland and acidic forests and woodlands]

Carya

Undersurface of the leaflets with dense, silvery-tan large peltate scales, and fewer and less conspicuous fewer small peltate scales (thus the leaves appearing overall silvery-tan); petiole and rachis hirsute with fasciculate trichomes, and also with concentrations of hairs near the leaflet insertions; [widespread in our area, of upland and acidic forests and woodlands]

Undersurface of the leaflets with dense, silvery-tan large peltate scales, and fewer and less conspicuous fewer small peltate scales (thus the leaves appearing overall silvery-tan); petiole and rachis hirsute with fasciculate trichomes, and also with concentrations of hairs near the leaflet insertions; [widespread in our area, of upland and acidic forests and woodlands]

Carya

Undersurface of the leaflets with dense, rusty-brown small peltate scales, and fewer and less conspicuous silvery-tan large peltate scales (thus the leaves appearing overall rusty-brown); petiole and rachis with few fasciculate hairs (but densely scaly), and lacking concentrations of hairs near the leaflet insertions; [of the sc. United States, east to MS, w. KY, w. TN, and perhaps AL and GA, of upland or lowland, acidic or calcareous forests and woodlands]

Undersurface of the leaflets with dense, rusty-brown small peltate scales, and fewer and less conspicuous silvery-tan large peltate scales (thus the leaves appearing overall rusty-brown); petiole and rachis with few fasciculate hairs (but densely scaly), and lacking concentrations of hairs near the leaflet insertions; [of the sc. United States, east to MS, w. KY, w. TN, and perhaps AL and GA, of upland or lowland, acidic or calcareous forests and woodlands]

Carya

Undersurface of the leaflets with dense, rusty-brown small peltate scales, and fewer and less conspicuous silvery-tan large peltate scales (thus the leaves appearing overall rusty-brown); petiole and rachis with few fasciculate hairs (but densely scaly), and lacking concentrations of hairs near the leaflet insertions; [of the sc. United States, east to MS, w. KY, w. TN, and perhaps AL and GA, of upland or lowland, acidic or calcareous forests and woodlands]

Undersurface of the leaflets with dense, rusty-brown small peltate scales, and fewer and less conspicuous silvery-tan large peltate scales (thus the leaves appearing overall rusty-brown); petiole and rachis with few fasciculate hairs (but densely scaly), and lacking concentrations of hairs near the leaflet insertions; [of the sc. United States, east to MS, w. KY, w. TN, and perhaps AL and GA, of upland or lowland, acidic or calcareous forests and woodlands]

Euphorbia

Leaf margins not ciliate (except some marginal hairs in E. curtisii); cyathia 2.0-3.4 mm wide (across the appendages), green or maroon; leaves slightly to strongly fleshy, 0.7-20× as long as wide, often very variable in shape, even on the same plant; [of more or less xeric sandhill woodlands with acidic, sandy soils].

Leaf margins not ciliate (except some marginal hairs in E. curtisii); cyathia 2.0-3.4 mm wide (across the appendages), green or maroon; leaves slightly to strongly fleshy, 0.7-20× as long as wide, often very variable in shape, even on the same plant; [of more or less xeric sandhill woodlands with acidic, sandy soils].

Theaceae

Leaves oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic (broadest at or above the middle), 2.5-4× as long as wide, acute to obtuse (rarely slightly acuminate), 8-30 cm long; [small to large tree, native in acidic Coastal Plain wetlands]; [tribe Gordonieae]

Leaves oblanceolate to narrowly elliptic (broadest at or above the middle), 2.5-4× as long as wide, acute to obtuse (rarely slightly acuminate), 8-30 cm long; [small to large tree, native in acidic Coastal Plain wetlands]; [tribe Gordonieae]

Lithospermum

Plant with scattered, stiff, spreading pubescence, the hairs with or without pustular bases; calyx lobes 10-15 mm long at maturity; nutlets 3.5-4.5 mm long; [variously of sandy acidic soils of the Coastal Plain or inland].

Plant with scattered, stiff, spreading pubescence, the hairs with or without pustular bases; calyx lobes 10-15 mm long at maturity; nutlets 3.5-4.5 mm long; [variously of sandy acidic soils of the Coastal Plain or inland].

Symphyotrichum

Involucres 8.5-12 (-15) mm high; phyllaries scabrous and stipitate-glandular; lower stem leaves (often withered by flowering season) cordate-clasping; [of acidic habitats of the Coastal Plain and Piedmont of e. and c. VA south through e. and c. NC to nc. SC]

Involucres 8.5-12 (-15) mm high; phyllaries scabrous and stipitate-glandular; lower stem leaves (often withered by flowering season) cordate-clasping; [of acidic habitats of the Coastal Plain and Piedmont of e. and c. VA south through e. and c. NC to nc. SC]

Isoetes

Leaves gray-green to bright-green; megaspore surface ridged or tuberculate, < 525 μm in diameter; [in acidic substrates].

Leaves gray-green to bright-green; megaspore surface ridged or tuberculate, < 525 μm in diameter; [in acidic substrates].

Calopogon

Leaf blade slightly curled transversely but not inrolled, appearing about 1 cm wide; dilated distal portion of middle lip lobe pink, not whitened (except of course in all-white flowers); [acidic wetlands, widespread in our region]

Leaf blade slightly curled transversely but not inrolled, appearing about 1 cm wide; dilated distal portion of middle lip lobe pink, not whitened (except of course in all-white flowers); [acidic wetlands, widespread in our region]

Sagittaria

Achenes 2.4-4 mm long, 1.5-3.8 mm wide; [inland acidic wetlands, east of the Mississippi River]

Achenes 2.4-4 mm long, 1.5-3.8 mm wide; [inland acidic wetlands, east of the Mississippi River]

Liriodendron

Mature leaves of fertile branches smaller, 0-4-lobed (sun leaves), the terminal lobes obtuse, broadly rounded to acuminate, though when acuminate the ultimate tip minutely blunt, the base cuneate, rounded, or truncate; fully-developed tepals 3.0-4.0 cm long; aggregate fruit (samaracetum) {< 6} cm long at maturity; stamens < 32; [of the Coastal Plain, especially fire-maintained, wetland, acidic, saturated, peaty/sandy sites]

Mature leaves of fertile branches smaller, 0-4-lobed (sun leaves), the terminal lobes obtuse, broadly rounded to acuminate, though when acuminate the ultimate tip minutely blunt, the base cuneate, rounded, or truncate; fully-developed tepals 3.0-4.0 cm long; aggregate fruit (samaracetum) {< 6} cm long at maturity; stamens < 32; [of the Coastal Plain, especially fire-maintained, wetland, acidic, saturated, peaty/sandy sites]

Liriodendron

Mature leaves of fertile branches smaller, 0-4-lobed (sun leaves), the terminal lobes obtuse, broadly rounded to acuminate, though when acuminate the ultimate tip minutely blunt, the base cuneate, rounded, or truncate; fully-developed tepals 3.0-4.0 cm long; aggregate fruit (samaracetum) {< 6} cm long at maturity; stamens < 32; [of the Coastal Plain, especially fire-maintained, wetland, acidic, saturated, peaty/sandy sites]

Mature leaves of fertile branches smaller, 0-4-lobed (sun leaves), the terminal lobes obtuse, broadly rounded to acuminate, though when acuminate the ultimate tip minutely blunt, the base cuneate, rounded, or truncate; fully-developed tepals 3.0-4.0 cm long; aggregate fruit (samaracetum) {< 6} cm long at maturity; stamens < 32; [of the Coastal Plain, especially fire-maintained, wetland, acidic, saturated, peaty/sandy sites]

Hexastylis

Calyx tube < 30 mm long, thicker and less brittle (in fresh flowers); flower odor malodorous, but not acidic and rancid.

Calyx tube < 30 mm long, thicker and less brittle (in fresh flowers); flower odor malodorous, but not acidic and rancid.

Hexastylis

Calyx tube > 30 mm long, relatively thin and especially brittle (in fresh flowers); flower odor often acidic and rancid.

Calyx tube > 30 mm long, relatively thin and especially brittle (in fresh flowers); flower odor often acidic and rancid.

Xyris

Seeds translucent; seed surfaces not farinose; scape 2-11 dm tall, but usually > 5 dm tall; [collectively widespread in acidic habitats of the Coastal Plain (and rarely Piedmont), NJ south to s. FL, west to e. TX)].

Seeds translucent; seed surfaces not farinose; scape 2-11 dm tall, but usually > 5 dm tall; [collectively widespread in acidic habitats of the Coastal Plain (and rarely Piedmont), NJ south to s. FL, west to e. TX)].

Hypericum

Plant usually branched near the base, becoming bushy and often forming a rather compact rounded shrub, usually less than 0.5 meter tall, rarely somewhat taller; inflorescence narrowly cylindric, from several of the upper stem nodes, with irregularly branched lateral clusters of flowers; seed medium to dark brown, the nearly circular alveolae not arranged in distinct lines; [SC south to north Florida and west to s MS and e. LA, usually in acidic wetland savannas and seepage slopes]

Plant usually branched near the base, becoming bushy and often forming a rather compact rounded shrub, usually less than 0.5 meter tall, rarely somewhat taller; inflorescence narrowly cylindric, from several of the upper stem nodes, with irregularly branched lateral clusters of flowers; seed medium to dark brown, the nearly circular alveolae not arranged in distinct lines; [SC south to north Florida and west to s MS and e. LA, usually in acidic wetland savannas and seepage slopes]

Viola

Leaves erect in life; leaf blades narrowly elliptical or ovate-lanceolate with small basal teeth or lobes during chasmogamous flower, sagittate or lance-triangular with larger slender basal teeth or linear-falcate lobes during fruit, teeth or lobes ≤ 1/4 length of the midrib; foliage glabrous or (more commonly) sparsely to moderately hirtellous; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate to lance-triangular; spurred petal densely bearded within; [inhabiting upland or wetland sites in dry to seasonally moist acidic sandy soils in sand prairies and oak barrens, interdunal swales, and lakeshores, widespread throughout much of e. North America, mostly absent from Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains]

Leaves erect in life; leaf blades narrowly elliptical or ovate-lanceolate with small basal teeth or lobes during chasmogamous flower, sagittate or lance-triangular with larger slender basal teeth or linear-falcate lobes during fruit, teeth or lobes ≤ 1/4 length of the midrib; foliage glabrous or (more commonly) sparsely to moderately hirtellous; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate to lance-triangular; spurred petal densely bearded within; [inhabiting upland or wetland sites in dry to seasonally moist acidic sandy soils in sand prairies and oak barrens, interdunal swales, and lakeshores, widespread throughout much of e. North America, mostly absent from Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains]

Silphium

Heads relatively small (involucre 6-11 mm high, disk 8-15 mm wide), with 6-12 ray flowers; [a wide range of mostly dry, often acidic habitats]; ["Silphium compositum group"].

Heads relatively small (involucre 6-11 mm high, disk 8-15 mm wide), with 6-12 ray flowers; [a wide range of mostly dry, often acidic habitats]; ["Silphium compositum group"].

Euphorbia

Petioles 0-3.5 (-10) mm long; leaves without ciliate margins; cyathia across the appendages (3.5-) 4-8 (-11) mm; nodes 20-75 nodes below the umbels; [habitats various, generally open, drier, and acidic, e.g., pine woods, sandhills, sandstone, ruderal sites]

Petioles 0-3.5 (-10) mm long; leaves without ciliate margins; cyathia across the appendages (3.5-) 4-8 (-11) mm; nodes 20-75 nodes below the umbels; [habitats various, generally open, drier, and acidic, e.g., pine woods, sandhills, sandstone, ruderal sites]

Eleocharis

Culms 0.5-1.3 mm wide; usually with 10 blunt ribs, finely ridged and minutely granular (at 20x); distal leaf sheath nearly always bearing an apical tooth up to 2 mm long; [freshwater habitats, coastal plain ponds, often acidic; MA w. to MI, south to TX and FL]

Culms 0.5-1.3 mm wide; usually with 10 blunt ribs, finely ridged and minutely granular (at 20x); distal leaf sheath nearly always bearing an apical tooth up to 2 mm long; [freshwater habitats, coastal plain ponds, often acidic; MA w. to MI, south to TX and FL]

Eleocharis

Bristles absent, or if present only 1-3 (these usually falling at maturity); achenes keeled or prominently trigonous; [wet acidic or calcareous sites; throughout coastal plain or inland].

Bristles absent, or if present only 1-3 (these usually falling at maturity); achenes keeled or prominently trigonous; [wet acidic or calcareous sites; throughout coastal plain or inland].

Eleocharis

Culms not compressed; instead terete, subterete, elliptic, sulcate (grooved) or with 4-many ridges; if culms ridged, the ridges sometimes sharp and often most evident when culms have dried; apex of scales entire, not bifid (except for E. occulta); [habitat calcareous or acidic].

Culms not compressed; instead terete, subterete, elliptic, sulcate (grooved) or with 4-many ridges; if culms ridged, the ridges sometimes sharp and often most evident when culms have dried; apex of scales entire, not bifid (except for E. occulta); [habitat calcareous or acidic].

Heuchera

Stamens exserted almost always < 1.7 mm, styles exserted almost always < 1.7 mm, laminar hair length < 0.6 mm, leaf membraneous; [highly acidic substrates (gneiss) in sw. NC].

Stamens exserted almost always < 1.7 mm, styles exserted almost always < 1.7 mm, laminar hair length < 0.6 mm, leaf membraneous; [highly acidic substrates (gneiss) in sw. NC].

Eryngium

Basal leaves (withering by flowering) flat against soil surface, broadly ovate-elliptic or ovate, obscurely crenate in lower half to subentire; teeth of midstem leaves teeth usually rounded to bluntly acute (edges forming a 45-75º angle, the outer strongly convex); inflorescence branches spreading-ascending; [plants of the Coastal Plain from VA to e. LA, over acidic substrates]

Basal leaves (withering by flowering) flat against soil surface, broadly ovate-elliptic or ovate, obscurely crenate in lower half to subentire; teeth of midstem leaves teeth usually rounded to bluntly acute (edges forming a 45-75º angle, the outer strongly convex); inflorescence branches spreading-ascending; [plants of the Coastal Plain from VA to e. LA, over acidic substrates]