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Lauraceae
Litsea

not marked as a favorite taxon Litsea aestivalis (Linnaeus) Fernald. Common name: Pondspice. Phenology: Mar-Apr; May-Jun. Habitat: Margins of limesink ponds and Carolina bays, less commonly in wet depressions and wet stringers dominated by shrubs. Distribution: A Southeastern Coastal Plain endemic: e. Maryland (Wicomico County) and se. Virginia (York and Isle of Wight counties) south to n. Florida (and allegedly also in Louisiana, based on an old and poorly labeled specimen).

Glossary (beta!)

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, K4, NS, POWO, RAB, Va, WH3, Jiménez-Pérez & Lorea-Hernández (2009); = Glabraria geniculata (Walter) Britton — S; = Laurus aestivalis L.; = Malapoenna geniculata J.M.Coult. — S13; = n/a — C, Tat. Basionym: Laurus aestivalis L. 1753

Links to other floras: = Litsea aestivalis - FNA3

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Wetland Indicator Status:

  • Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: OBL
  • Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: OBL

Heliophily ⓘ: 6

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image #1 of Litsea aestivalis© Bruce Sorrie
image #2 of Litsea aestivalis© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #3 of Litsea aestivalis© Bruce Sorrie
image #4 of Litsea aestivalis© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
image #5 of Litsea aestivalis© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image #6 of Litsea aestivalis© Alan Weakley source
image #7 of Litsea aestivalis© Bruce Sorrie
image #8 of Litsea aestivalis© J.W. Hardin | Original Image ⭷
image #9 of Litsea aestivalis© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image #10 of Litsea aestivalis© Alan Weakley source | Original Image ⭷
image #11 of Litsea aestivalis© Scott Ward; w/ the Wyatt Jackson | Original Image ⭷
image #12 of Litsea aestivalis© Scott Ward | Original Image ⭷

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Horticultural Information

NCBG trait

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native range: southeastern United States