Flora of the Southeastern United States

Lyonia fruticosa (Michaux) G.S. Torrey. Common name: Staggerbush, Poor-grub. Phenology: Jan-Jul; May-Oct. Habitat: Pine flatwoods, scrubby flatwoods and Florida scrub, pocosins. Distribution: Se. South Carolina (at least formerly) south to s. peninsular Florida, west to e. Panhandle Florida. Though not included in RAB for the Carolinas, Judd (1981) cites several old specimens from South Carolina. The species is definitely known from immediately adjacent Georgia, and there seems no reason to doubt the accuracy of the (at least historical) occurrence records in South Carolina.

ID notes: This species can be difficult to distinguish from L. ferruginea, with which it often co-occurs (although see below). In general, the leaves of L. ferruginea tend to have revolute margins with an (at least somewhat) acute apex (vs. L. fruticosa which tends to have leaves planar or flattened and leaf apices rounded). These characters are not mutually exclusive; however, and so close attention should be paid to characters described in the key. In c. FL, this species has a wider ecological amplitude, while L. ferruginea tends to occur in slightly more xeric sites, especially with yellow sands. It is common to see some plants within populations bearing conspicuous Exobasidium galls.

Origin/Endemic status: Endemic

Synonymy ⓘ: = Fl5, FNA8, GW2, K1, K4, NS, POWO, WH3, Judd (1981), Luteyn et al (1996); = Xolisma fruticosa (Michx.) Nash — S, S13; < Lyonia ferruginea (Walter) Nutt. — RAB. Basionym: Andromeda ferruginea Walter var. fruticosa Michx. 1803

Links to other floras: = Lyonia fruticosa - FNA8

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW

Heliophily ⓘ: 8