Litsea aestivalis (Linnaeus) Fernald. Pondspice. Phen: Mar-Apr; May-Jun. Hab: Margins of limesink ponds and Carolina bays, less commonly in wet depressions and wet stringers dominated by shrubs. Dist: A Southeastern Coastal Plain endemic: e. MD (Wicomico County) and se. VA (York and Isle of Wight counties) south to n. FL (and allegedly also in LA, based on an old and poorly labeled specimen).
ID notes: The fine, zigzag twigs are distinctive. Litsea aestivalis grows to 6 m tall, characteristically forming a rounded multi-stemmed bush.
Origin/Endemic status: Endemic
Synonymy ⓘ: = F, Fl2, FNA3, GW2, K1, K3, K4, RAB, Va, WH3, Jiménez-Pérez & Lorea-Hernández (2009); = Malapoenna geniculata Coult. – S13; = n/a – C, Tat
Links to other floras: = Litsea aestivalis - FNA3
Wetland Indicator Status:
Heliophily ⓘ: 6
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