Dirca palustris Linnaeus. Leatherwood, Leatherbark, Wicopee, Rope-bark. Phen: (Nov-) Feb-May; Jun-Jul. Hab: Very rich forests, on slopes or bottomlands, limited to calcareous or mafic rocks such as limestone, calcareous siltstone, calcareous shale, gabbro, or amphibolite, in marl ravine bottoms in the Coastal Plain of VA, in Ashe County NC ascending to 1500 meters elevation. Dist: NS and s. QC, south to Panhandle FL, AL, and OK.

ID notes:The curiously flexible twigs with light brown bark and swollen nodes are distinctive.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Other Comments: The common names refer to the extraordinary toughness of the tan-brown bark, which was used by native Americans for cordage.

Synonymy: = Ar, C, F, Fl4, FNA6, G, Il, K1, K3, K4, Mi, NE, NY, Pa, RAB, S, Tn, Va, W, WH3, WV, Floden, Mayfield, & Ferguson (2009), Nevling (1962)

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